Two people have been killed in pre-election violence in Bangladesh, police said Wednesday, as early campaigning is marred by clashes between armed rivals that has left scores injured. More than 100 people have been hurt in violence on the campaign trail since Monday, when candidates from the two major parties hit the hustings ahead of the December 30 poll.
Police said two supporters from the Awami League, the ruling party headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, died from injuries sustained in brawls with opposition rivals late Tuesday.
Mobs armed with knives and batons faced off at a rally in Noakhali, a southern district, where a pro-government demonstrator was seriously injured.
"He died on the way to hospital. Some 30 to 35 people were also injured in the conflict," Mahmud Nasir, the deputy district police chief, told AFP.