Four more people were killed in the last two days, raising the death toll to around 80 in violence over union parishad polls.

The pre-polls violence continued in different districts, panicking voters ahead of the fifth phase of the elections scheduled for May 28.

Around 6,000 people were also injured in the polls-related violence after the UP polls schedule was announced in February, according to media reports.

In Chittagong, criminals killed a man while he was pasting posters of Awami League's rebel chairman candidate in Islampur in Rangunia upazila early yesterday.

The victim Mohammad Mohsin, 40, was of Khatibnagar of the union.

Claiming Mohsin as his supporter, the rebel candidate, Sirajuddaullah Dulal, alleged that followers of AL chairman candidate Ikbal Hossain Chowdhury killed Mohsin. 

Ikbal denied the allegation.

Mohammad Humayun, officer-in-charge of Rangunia Police Station, said the killing could have been due to a feud over the ownership of a tea stall.

In Narsingdi, the body of a man was found with his throat slit on the bank of a river in Baduarchar yesterday.

Ebaidullah, 30, was a supporter of a member candidate in Hazipur union.

Ebaidullah might have been killed following feud over the polls, said locals. 

In Sylhet, Rokib Miah, 40, was killed over a silly matter in Goalabazar union of Osmaninagar on Monday night.

Member candidate Aptab Miah in Goalabazar union brought out an election procession on Monday afternoon and his men were distributing leaflets.

Six-year-old Marzana, a niece of Rokib, asked for a leaflet. But campaigner Jakir pushed the child aside. Seeing it, her father Dilbar Miah attacked Jakir and injured him.

Rokib along with others took Jakir to his house after his treatment.

While returning from the house, Jakir's relatives attacked and injured them, alleged Rokib's family. 

Later, Rokib was taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital where he died yesterday.

In Munshiganj, Mohammad Hanif, 30, was shot dead Monday night near an election camp of AL chairman candidate in Hosendi union.

Police, however, could not confirm whether the victim was a supporter of any political party or a candidate. 

In Mymensingh, criminals opened fire on Jubo League activist Shafiqul Islam Sohag Fakir.

Sohag was campaigning at Charbariabazar for AL's chairman aspirant in Longair union of Gofargoan Monday night. 

Elections to 725 UPs were held on March 22 in the first phase, 639 UPs on March 31 in the second phase, 615 UPs on April 23 in the third phase and 703 UPs on May 7 in the fourth phase.

Polls to 733 UPs are slated for May 28 in the fifth phase and 724 more UPs on June 4 in the sixth phase.

Our correspondents from Chittagong, Narsingdi, Sylhet, Munshiganj and Mymensingh have contributed to this report.

Leaders of minority communities today urged the government and law enforcement agencies to ensure security of the minority people during the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The leaders also urged the political parties not to nominate such leaders who work against interests of minorities.

While briefing reporters at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad, said, “Those who are involved in the activities against the interests of the minority people should not be made candidates for the upcoming 11th parliamentary elections".

A committee, convened by Rana, was also formed with 17 organisations to push for their demands.

They will march towards the prime minister office in Dhaka from the Jatiya Press Club on September 14 to press home their demands.

As violence continued with each phase of the Union Parishad polls gone by, the Election Commission has asked the home ministry to ensure a congenial atmosphere for the next phases.

“Maintaining law and order as well as ensuring voters' security, especially minorities', are the prime pre-requisites for free, fair, impartial and peaceful elections,” said the EC in a letter to the home secretary on Sunday.

“The letter has been sent to remind them [ministry officials] of their duties during elections. Their cooperation is very crucial for fair polls,” said EC Secretary Sirazul Islam.

The EC wrote the letter against the backdrop of violence and irregularities that took place centering on the four phases of UP elections between March 22 and May 7. 

Arresting criminals, recovering arms, curbing violence, increasing police patrol and ensuring voters' security are necessary for ensuring a congenial atmosphere for the next phases, it said.

At least 71 people were killed and some 6,000 injured in violence over UP polls until May 4, according to Shushashoner Jannoy Nagorik (Shujan), a citizens' platform for good governance.

Thirteen others were killed in violence as of yesterday from last Thursday, according to The Daily Star findings.

Referring to media reports and field-level findings, the EC in the letter stated that violence had increased with time. Some have been killed and some injured; arson attacks, vandalism and looting took place. In some cases, minorities have come under attacks.

Allegations have been raised against supporters of some candidates of preventing their rivals from submitting nomination papers and intimidating rival candidates. There are even accusations against some law enforcers and other “responsible” field-level officials of favouring particular candidates or remaining inactive when irregularities took place.

Many think that violence has increased because listed criminals are at large and no stern action has been taken against arms-bearers, the EC said in the letter signed by its Deputy Secretary Farhad Ahmad Khan.

The EC asked the home ministry to “intensively” monitor activities of law enforcers and to issue directives to law enforcement agencies and field-level officials to ensure peaceful polls.

Violence has continued since the schedule of the first phase was announced in February. 

Following widespread violence in the first and second phase polls, the EC on April 13 held an emergency meeting with top-level officials of law enforcement agencies and paramilitary forces to discuss the law and order situation.

But that hardly brought any change in the third and fourth phases.

During the latest polls on May 8, the EC suspended voting at 51 polling stations for irregularities.

At Jugirhat Hossenia Hafezia Madrasa polling centre in Munshirhat UP, it suspended the voting because of illegal stuffing of ballot boxes.

On Sunday, the commission asked the returning officer (RO) of the UP under Chauddagram upazila of Comilla to file a case against a presiding officer and an assistant presiding officer for their involvement in stuffing ballot boxes.

It also asked the RO to take necessary measures for suspending a police officer for his “negligence in duties” when criminals were carrying out the illegal act.

Meanwhile, civil society organisations, including Governance Advocacy Forum and Shujan questioned the UP polls due to widespread violence and irregularities.

A deputy secretary of the EC said that in many cases field-level officials temporarily appointed for election duties had not properly informed the EC of the irregularities that took place.

Elections to 725 UPs were held on March 22 in the first phase, 639 UPs on March 31 in the second phase, 615 UPs on April 23 in the third phase and 703 UPs on May 7 in the fourth phase.

Polls to 733 UPs are scheduled for May 28 in the fifth phase and 724 on June 4 in the sixth phase.

Citing an oblique reference to the first phase of Union Parishad (UP) elections, the ruling Awami League has claimed that the 2nd phase of UP polls was held in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

“There is no option to term the polls as faulty,” AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif made the post polls reaction at a press conference at the party president's Dhanmondi office today.

Hanif, however, endorsed that there were some irregularities in 22 polling stations out of 6,000 centres.

Referring to the deaths in today’s violence, Hanif said one among the three people has died of heart attack in Jamalpur.

“Killing of the rest two people is unacceptable,” he added.

“We directed the law enforcing agencies to take tough actions against the culprits involved in the killings," the AL leader said.

As an independent chairman candidate in the ongoing Union Parishad polls, she does not want any extra favour; rather her only expectation from the Election Commission (EC) is fair polls.

However, Momtaz Parvin has enough reasons to be worried over the UP polls, which have already witnessed deadly violence in the previous four phases. She fears her rival candidate may unleash terror and occupy polling stations on the election day on May 28.

"I just want a peaceful atmosphere where voters will get equal chance to cast their votes fearlessly,” said Momtaz Parvin, who is contesting at Bhawal union under Saltha upazila in Faridpur.

She was talking to The Daily Star at the EC Secretariat yesterday after filing an application with the commission seeking necessary steps to ensure a congenial atmosphere for fair polling.

“Supporters of my rival candidate are intimidating voters and planning to hire armed criminals on the voting day to occupy poll centres. I want the commission to take necessary measures to prevent any such misdeeds,” she said.

Not only Parvin, demands for fair and peaceful polls are getting louder from many other candidates.

The four phases of polls, which were held in between March 22 and May 8, were marred by massive violence and irregularities. Around 84 people were killed and 6,000 injured due to violence.

Several candidates are now lobbying hard to ensure peaceful and fair voting in the next phases.

“Supporters of my rival candidates are regularly making showdown brandishing arms to intimidate voters,” said Sultan Khan, an independent candidate of Bharara UP under Sadar upazila in Pabna.

“I have already talked to the district election officer and the upazila election officer and will submit a written application to the deputy commissioner requesting necessary steps for peaceful voting on June 4,” he told The Daily Star yesterday.

Even the ruling Awami League-nominated chairman candidates in a number of UPs are in fear of violence and irregularities.

Abul Khayer Mohammad Ali Khokon, an AL-nominated chairman candidate of Guagachiya UP under Gazaria upazila in Munshiganj, has sought additional security in polling stations fearing violence and irregularities.

Three polling stations in that UP have been dubbed as most vulnerable and might be occupied by rival candidates, Khokon said in an application to the EC yesterday.

“I strongly demand deployment of magistrates and mobile teams of law enforcers round the clock at the centres,” the application read.

Local sources said an influential AL leader of Munshiganj is blessing an independent candidate in Guagachiya UP that will go to polls on May 28.

Saidur Rahman, a BNP-nominated chairman aspirant of Tajpur UP under Singra upazila in Natore, has meanwhile filed an appeal with the EC demanding deployment of army during the polls.

Elections to 725 UPs were held on March 22 in the first phase, 639 UPs on March 31 in the second phase, 615 UPs on April 23 in the third phase and 703 UPs on May 8 in the fourth phase.

Besides, polls to 733 UPs are slated for May 28 in the fifth phase and 724 on June 4 in the sixth phase.