Clashes killed at least 17 people and wounded dozens as Bangladesh voted in the general election amid allegations of widespread rigging by the opposition.

Polls opened for the nearly 104 million voters at 8 am and ended at 4pm after which officials started counting the ballots.

The Election Commission said voting has been suspended at 22 polling centres.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda described the polls as ‘peaceful overall’, with a few ‘sporadic incidents’ of violence earlier in the day.

The ruling Awami League is tipped to win a straight third term.

“I am always confident,” said its chief and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after casting her vote at the Dhaka City College centre in the capital.

“We believe in democracy. I believe the pro-independence force will emerge victorious.”

The three-time prime minister also said that she is confident of getting people’s vote.

“Boat will win, no doubt,” she said.

The opposition, shaped around Dr. Kamal Hossain in the form of an alliance ‘Jatiya Oikya Front’ that counts BNP as its largest member, alleged their polling agents were driven out of the centres and that most of the ballots were stamped the night before.

 “I am deeply disturbed by the overall polls situation,” he said during a media briefing at the alliance headquarters in Motijheel.

“I have yet to hear that any of the polls are fair in any of the constituencies. I expected that among the 40-50 candidates who have called so far, at least one will say that the elections in their seats are being held fairly.”

Responding to queries about whether Oikya Front will remain in the polls arena till the very end, Hossain said they will fight till the very end.

“It is with great sadness I say that I did not expect such an election scenario after 47 years of independence,” he said.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir casted his vote in his native Thakurgaon,

“I saw a long line of voters at the centre and voting is done peacefully; however I have heard that centres in Begunbari and Thakurgaon Government College have been overtaken by Awami League activists.”

Despite the deadly clashes in several parts of the country, foreign observers said things were going smooth.

After visiting several polling centres in the capital the group of observers spoke to the press.

Indian observer Goutom Ghosh said, “There is absolute peace and I feel that everything is good till now.”

Voting is going on spontaneously and the administration has taken adequate steps to ensure people election, he added.

When asked about similarity between the election in Bangladesh and India, he said, “We find the same thing.”

People in both the countries stand in the line and give vote spontaneously, he said.

A Canadian observer said, “We visited several centres and everyone is getting access to polling stations to able to cast their ballots.”

All officials are doing a great job to ensure that people’s voice be heard, she said.

“Things are going smoothly,” she added.

At least 17 dead in violence
In the southeastern district of Chattogram, three people were killed— two during clashes outside two polling centres while a ruling party activist was hacked to death hours before polls opened at 8am on Sunday (Dec 30).
In Cumilla, a 45-year-old man died after he was attacked by unidentified men while another was shot dead when police opened fire as a group of men barged in a polling station to take away ballot boxes.
In the northern district of Rajshahi, a supporter of the ruling Awami League was killed in a clash with opposition activists at voting centre.
In Tangail, police recovered the body of a local BNP leader who was remained missing since Saturday.
In the southeastern coastal district of Cox’s Bazar, one person was killed as clash erupted between ruling party supporters and opposition activists. The local Awami League said the deceased was a worker of party’s youth affiliate.
A ruling party local leader was killed in the hill tract district of Rangamati when clashes erupted outside a centre. At least 11 others were injured.
In Narsingdi, an Awami League polling agent, was hacked and slaughtered allegedly by supporters of opposition (independent) candidate at voting centre, police said.
In Natore, an Awami League supporter was stabbed to death by his nephew following an argument over casting vote.
In Bogura, a ruling party activist was killed and five others were injured in a clash between AL and BNP activists at a polling station over occupying polling station.
An Ansar member was killed at Noakhali polling station when unidentified men opened fire, said election officials.
Police in Gazipur reported that a man was hacked to death barely an hour before the polls closed.
In Lalmonirhat, a man was stabbed while he was on his way to the polling station. He later died while being treated at a hospital.