February 16, 2003	Sunday	Zul Hijjah 14, 1423

DHAKA, Feb 15: At least seven more people were killed and 200 injured in violence linked to Bangladesh’s staggered local elections, press reports said Saturday.

The deaths pushed the toll to 20 since the polls began across Bangladesh on January 25. Earlier, newspaper reports had put the number of deaths at 13 with scores injured.

The Daily Star newspaper Saturday said the seven, including a girl, were killed and 200 injured during the past few days in poll-linked violence in the districts of Madaripur, Faridpur, Munshiganj and Bogra.

Voting has been put off in at least 60 of the country’s 39,372 polling centres due to violence or other complications, the Election Commission said.

A total of 198,704 candidates are contesting the local council seats, including 42,250 women vying for the 2,684 seats reserved for them.

The elections, which end on March 16, are officially held on a non-party basis, but political parties indirectly nominate candidates to ensure a foothold at the grassroots level. —AFP