At least 19 people were injured in a clash between BNP and Jamaat activists in Shyamnagar upazila of Bagerhat on Thursday, as voting continued in the 13th National Parliamentary Election.
The incident occurred around 11am in Sonatala village of Southkhali union, near a polling centre.
The injured were taken to Shyamnagar Upazila Health Complex for treatment.
Local sources said 15 of the injured were Jamaat activists, including Sabbir, Tariqul, Sobhan, Nazma and Farida, while four were BNP supporters, including Rafiqul and Siddiq.
The clash triggered tension in the area, residents said.
In a separate incident, joint forces arrested a youth named Nahid near Bichot Government Primary School polling centre in Kachua upazila.
He was found carrying locally-made sharp weapons.
The joint forces of BGB, army and police, led by Lt Commander Md Abdur Rauf, conducted the operation in Harikhali Kather Pole area of Sadar upazila and seized a large cache of locally-made weapons from a furniture shop.
Lt Commander Abdur Rauf said the weapons appeared to have been stockpiled for sabotage ahead of the election, and the matter is under investigation.
District Superintendent of Police Hasan Chowdhury said the police are following a zero-tolerance policy against crime and will take legal action against anyone involved in violence.
Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Golam Md Baten said preparations are underway to file a case over the Shyamnagar clash and that law enforcement agencies are working to ensure peaceful voting.
