Second phase of UP elections held amid violence. Photo : Our Time

Desk Report
The Second phase of union parishad (UP) elections took place in 639 union parishads of 82 upazilas and concluded amid stray incidents of violence.It left five people dead and at least 60 others injured in different parts of the country on Thursday. Voting began at 8 am and continued till 4 pm without any break. Those killed in the violence were identified as Rafiqul Islam,50, of Shyampur union of Melandah upazila in Jamalpur, Shuva, 10, son of Halim of Dhalikandi village in Keraniganj upazila, Dhaka and Golap Hossain of Chanchra union in Sadar upazila, Jessore. According to reports reaching the UNB news desk, supporters of the two member candidates locked into a clash at Uttar Baluchar Government Primary School polling centre around 11:15 am at Shyampur union in Melandah upazila of Jamalpur district. Both the groups fought a pitched battle chasing each other. During the melee, a brick chip was hurled form one side that hit Rafiqul Islam,50, leaving him dead on the spot, witnesses said. Another person was also injured in the clash, they said. However, officer-in-charge of Melandah Police Station Nasimul Islam said Rafiqul died of heart attack while waiting in a long queue for casting vote. In Keraniganj upazila, a minor boy, identified as Shuva, 10, son of Halim of Dhalikandi village, was killed as he received stray bullets during a gunfight at a polling centre in Madhurchar during the balloting.