Bomb at Election Rally Kills at Least 8; 50 Hurt

At least eight people were killed and 50 injured when a bomb exploded at an election rally in Mollarhat, witnesses and police said.

The witnesses said a bomb went off while Sheik Helaluddin, a candidate for the Oct. 1 parliamentary poll, was about to address a meeting. Helaluddin was not hurt.

Helaluddin is a member of the Awami League party of former Prime Minister Sheik Hasina Wajed, who stepped down in July.

Bangladesh’s caretaker government, headed by former Chief Justice Latifur Rahman, has ordered 55,000 army troops to assist police and paramilitary soldiers to ensure a peaceful vote.