Paramilitary force Border Guard Bangladesh's (BGB) chief today said his troops were forced to open gunfire to control violence in Pirojpur's Mathbaria that led to death of at least five people.

"Legal steps were followed in drawing the firearms," Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed, director general of BGB, told reporters at a press briefing.

"It was night. There was no other way to control the situation. BGB men were compelled to open fire. The firing was ordered by on-duty executive magistrate," he said.

COPS SUE 1,300 OVER MATHBARIA VIOLENCE

Police have sued about 1,300 anonymous people for attacking policemen and district officials in Pirojpur's Mathbaria upazila during union parishad elections on March 22 – a clash that left five people dead.

Sarwar Ali, a sub-inspector, filed the case with Mothbaria Police Station last night. Another Sub-Inspector Nasiruddin is investigating the case, our Pirojpur correspondent reports.

During the first phase of union parishad election, violence broke out at Safa Degree College under Dhanisafa union in Mathbaria upazila. Police opened gunfire that led to death of five people.

READ MORE: Desperation for win led to bloodshed

Almost all the polling centres in Dhanisafa saw irregularities, but the situation was worst at Safa Degree College centre where the shooting took place. Voting was temporarily suspended after the AL men had stormed the centre and stuffed ballot boxes several times.