DHAKA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Deadly pre-election violence left a local leader of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party dead and dozens of others injured in Bangladesh's northern Sherpur district on Wednesday, police said.
"The Jamaat leader was among those injured in the violence and suffered serious head injuries," Md Kamrul Islam, superintendent of police in Sherpur district, told journalists. "We later learned that he died around 10 p.m. while undergoing treatment at a hospital."
According to the police official, the violence broke out in the afternoon during a political event in the Sherpur-3 parliamentary constituency, where candidates from several parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, were present. The clash erupted following a dispute between activists of the two parties, he said.
Local media reported that dozens of people were injured in the clash.
Amid a rise in pre-election violence in Dhaka and other parts of the country, authorities announced on Wednesday night that 38 platoons of paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh would be deployed from Thursday to help maintain law and order.
Bangladesh will hold its general election on Feb. 12, which will coincide with a referendum. The Election Commission has said campaigning will end 48 hours before voting begins. ■