Two Awami League leaders were killed in pre-election violence in Noakhali and Faridpur on Tuesday, the second day of electioneering for the 11th Parliamentary Election due on Dec 30.
The ruling AL blamed their arch-rival BNP and its allies Jamaat-e-Islami for the killings, which the later denied.
In Noakhali, Jubo League leader Mohammad Hanif was killed in a clas violence between the supporters of AL and BNP over electioneering at Eojbalia in Sadar upazila, said Sudharam police OC Anwar Hossain.
The supporters of AL’s Noakhali-4 election candidate Ekramul Karim Chowdhury and BNP’s M Shahjahan engaged in a fight over election campaign.
Amid a chase and counter-chase during the melee, Hanif suffered bullet wounds.
In Faridpur, a local L leader was killed in an attack allegedly by BNP supporters at Goaldangi in Sadarupazila at night.
Forty-year-old Yusuf Al Mamun was the cultural affairs secretary of AL North Channel union unit.
Witnesses said Mamun had an altercation with BNP activists Mazid Sheikh and Aziz at a local tea stall around 8:30pm over the upcoming election and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
At one stage, the two BNP men punched him and beat him with a stick whereby the AL leader collapsed on the ground.
He was taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
Local ward AL president Lalon Fakir was also injured as he tried to prevent the attack.
District AL vice-president and Zila Parishad Chairman Lokman Hossain Mridha claimed that the attackers are the supporters of BNP candidate from Faridpur-3 constituency Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yousuf.
Sadar Police OC AFM Nasim said forces were deployed in the area.