UPDATE - Death Toll In Clashes During Bangladeshi General Election Rises To 17 - Reports

NEW DELHI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th December, 2018) The number of people who were killed on Sunday in clashes during the general election in Bangladesh has reached 17, Daily Star reported.

Earlier it was reported about 12 victims.

Bangladeshi citizens elected 300 members of the country's unicameral legislature earlier on Sunday. The polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. local time (2:00 GMT) and closed at 4:00 p.m. local time. Media initially reported seven deaths.

According to Bangladesh's BSS news agency, the clashes between representatives of various political forces were recorded in the Bangladeshi cities of Chittagong, Comilla, Dinajpur, Rajshahi and Rangamati.

Bangladeshi Chief Election Commissioner Nurul Huda characterized Sunday's election as "quite peaceful," noting, at the same time, sporadically occurring violent incidents.

Security in the country on the election day was provided by over 600,000 law enforcement officers. In addition, the Bangladeshi authorities have shut off high-speed mobile internet services until the end of the elections, in order to prevent sabotage of the electoral process and possible political provocations. The Bengal administration also did not rule out the possibility of blocking citizens' access to social networks, "if the situation requires it."

The first election results are expected to be released later on Sunday, while the definitive results are expected to be made public on Monday.