The ruling Awami League has claimed that the union parishad election was held in a free, spontaneous, and transparent manner while its political opponent BNP termed the polls “farcical under a partisan Election Commission”.

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad yesterday claimed that the first phase of the union parishad polls was “acceptable” as voting was “peaceful” in most of the polling centres.

Widespread violence left at least 10 people dead and around a thousand others wounded in the first phase of union parishads elections yesterday. The festive mood of the polls to the lowest tier of local government was largely marred by electoral irregularities and incidents of clashes between supporters of rival candidates.

UP polls: 2 people have been killed when supporters of 2 member candidates attacked polls officials to snatch ballots in Teknaf upazia of Coxs Bazar, cops say.

An Awami League-backed candidate is arrested for allegedly snatching ballots in Phulpur upazila of Mymensingh during the Union Parishad election.

BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleges that the government held a farcical election “under a partisan election commission”.

Parliamentary opposition Jatiya Party files a complaint with the Election Commission dissatisfied with the voting at union parishad election.

The first phase of the Union Parishad (UP) elections begins, marking the start of the country's maiden UP-level polls on partisan lines. Two people are injured in Satkhira and voting remains suspended in 11 polling centres in Satkhira, Barisal and Patuakhali so far.

Two presiding officers are shot in Noakhali as reports of gunfire came from voting centres in Patuakhali and Satkhira during the first phase of union parishad elections.

Over 700 unions will go to polls today against the backdrop of the deadly violence during electioneering in the last couple of weeks.

With elections due in 732 union parishads tomorrow, one man was killed and scores others were injured in pre-polls violence in different places of the country yesterday.

Actions will be taken, if anyone shows muscle power or violate the electoral code of conduct during the upcoming Union Parishad polls, says Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque.

Violating electoral law, a ruling Awami League lawmaker in Jhalakathi yesterday sought votes for party-nominated chairman candidates in the union parishad polls scheduled for Tuesday.

The Election Commission has asked superintendent of police of all districts to file cases against violators of electoral code of conduct during the upcoming union parishad polls.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif says organisational steps will be taken against the lawmakers who will get involved in electoral activities during the upcoming union parishad elections.

A nephew of BNP-backed chairman candidate from Sheikh Matia Union Parishad in Nazirpur upazila of Pirojpur is stabbed dead by miscreants.

The BNP could not nominate anyone within the deadline yesterday for contesting the chairman posts in at least 25 Union Parishads in the second phase of elections for a lack of interest among its grassroots.

The Election Commission today announces that the chairman and councillor aspirants of the upcoming Union Parishad elections can submit their nomination papers to the district administration offices apart from the returning officers to avert any untoward incident.

The BNP has alleged that the ruling Awami League and the Election Commission are plotting to ensure victories for the AL candidates in the union parishad polls through electoral irregularities, but the AL and the EC have brushed aside the allegations.

The Election Commission cancels the polls schedule for 12 union parishads in the second-phase of the election scheduled to be held on March 31.