DHAKA: At least four people were killed as Bangladesh held village council elections Thursday that are certain to further consolidate the governing party's power but have raised concerns about the state of democracy in the South Asian nation.
The largest opposition party is boycotting the vote, saying a skewed political atmosphere is preventing fair participation.
Widespread allegations of misconduct were made during the last two national elections, and political violence has marred past votes in Bangladesh, particularly for rural councils.
Opposing groups used guns and spears to prevent supporters of rivals from reaching the polling booths in a village in Narsingdi district in central Bangladesh, killing three, said Satyajt Kumar Ghosh, a senior police officer.
At least 20 other people were injured in the chaos, he said.
A fourth man died when rival groups clashed in southern Cox's Bazar district, the newspaper Prothom Alo reported.
Six others were injured in the area, it said.
Chief Election Commissioner K.M. Nurul Huda warned against election violence before Thursday's vote and said security measures were being taken to respond to any incidents.
Ahead of the vote, at least nine people were killed and hundreds injured in campaign violence this month.
Since January, 85 people have been killed and more than 6,000 injured in election-related violence, according to a Dhaka-based rights group, Ain-o-Salish Kendra.
More than 10.5 million eligible voters are choosing representatives on 835 councils after proceedings in some places were suspended over irregularities or violence.
A total of 4,571 councils, known as union parishads that are responsible for local community development and public welfare are being contested in phases.
In the first phase in June, elections were held for 204 councils, with 148 candidates from the governing party winning and independents taking the rest.
Analysts say Thursday's election is an opportunity for the ruling Awami League party of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to consolidate its position ahead of the next general election slated for 2023.
Her party won by landslides in the last two general elections in 2014 and 2018, which were marred by allegations of vote rigging and manipulation.
From 1991, when Bangladesh returned to a democratic system, to the 2008 election, Hasina and her archrival, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, alternately ruled the country.
Hasina's overwhelming win in 2008 was the last national election that was accepted as free and fair, and Zia's party has boycotted several of the elections since.