A candidate backed by Bangladesh's main opposition party was elected mayor of the the port city of Chittagong on Friday, the first big setback for the ruling Awami League since it took power last year.

Thursday's voting was peaceful but clashes erupted between supporters of the Awami League and the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party as votes were counted. At least 30 people were injured as the two sides accused each other of fraud and rigging.

The Awami League, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and the BNP headed by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, are bitterly opposed to each other. National political parties do not usually take an active part in municipal elections but both the Awami League and the BNP campaigned in the Chittagong election.

Manzur Alam, supported by the BNP and its ally the Jamaat-e-Islami, received 479,145 votes against 383,617 for the ruling party-backed candidate A.B.M. Mohiuddin Chowdhury, an election official said.

Political analysts say city polls are often an indicator of the major parties' gaining or losing public support, and usually have an impact on the national election.

Mayoral elections are due in five other city corporations this year.


Reuters