There have been violent clashes between opposition activists and the police in Bangladesh, where a general election is under way despite an opposition boycott.
At least five opposition supporters have been killed on polling day and dozens more have died in the run-up to the polls.
An election polling centre in Rajshahi, 250kms north of Dhaka. Photo: AFP
The boycott by the main opposition party and its allies means that in more than half of the constituencies, candidates from the governing Awami League and its partners have been elected unopposed.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina rejected demands for her to step down and a neutral government to oversee the poll, as in previous years.
In more than half of constituencies there is no voting at all, because the opposition boycott has led to government candidates being declared winners in advance.
Police opened fire as protesters tried to take over polling station in northern Rangpur district, killing two people.
In Nilphamari district, police also fired on about two dozen protesters. Two people died.
Media reported that more than 100 polling stations were torched overnight - adding to a similar number the night before.
Security is tight, with some 50,000 troops reportedly deployed around the country for the election.
But the BBC reports that, given the arson attacks and attempts to steal ballot papers and despite the heavy police presence, voters are wary about how secure they would be in coming to the polling stations.
All elections since 1991 have been held under a neutral caretaker administration to ensure that voting is not fixed. But the Awami League abolished the caretaker system in 2010.
