Candidates of the ruling Awami League (AL) are leading in the first phase municipality election held Monday at 24 municipalities across Bangladesh.

Awami League candidates Mohammad Habib Hasan and Tanvir Shakil Joy have won the two parliamentary by-elections to Dhaka-18 and Sirajganj-1 constituencies respectively amid a low voter turnout.

Awami League candidate Umme Kulsum Smriti won the Gaibandha-3 (Polashbari-Sadullapur) by-polls on Saturday, beating her nearest rival, BNP’s Dr Moinul Hasan Sadik, by a huge margin.