Election-related violence kills 10 in Bangladesh

At least 10 people have been killed in Bangladesh after clashes erupted between supporters of rival candidates of local elections.

Seven of the dead were shot by security forces on Tuesday on a magistrate's order, police chief Walid Hossain said.

He said officers fired at thousands of unruly people who attacked police with machetes, rocks and sticks.

Police shot dead two other people in the town of Sabrang, when supporters of a ruling party candidate allegedly tried to snatch ballot boxes from paramilitary forces.

Five others were killed in separate clashes across the country.

An official said the victims were supporters of the ruling Awami League, who had attacked police and other guards taking ballot boxes to the government headquarters.

People cast their ballots in 36 districts on Tuesday to elect their local governments or Union Parishad. The elections will be held in six phases over the next four months.

SS