Dhaka, May 23: Police on Tuesday afternoon foiled a rally of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party after the party activists locked in clash with the law enforcers at Science Lab crossing in the capital.
Over a dozen, including the party activists and policemen, were injured in the clash and around 10 leaders and activists of BNP, including central executive committee member Sheikh Robiul Alam, were arrested.
Activists of BNP and police got locked in the clash at about 3:45pm after Dhaka south city unit BNP brought out a procession in the area, police said.
BNP said that they were holding a procession in Science Lab area to press home their 10-point demand, which includes the resignation of the government.
A bus and a traffic police box were also vandalised during the incident, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner for Ramna division Ashraf Hossain.
The police officer said that the procession initially was peaceful, but BNP activists went berserk when their procession reached at Science Lab crossing.
Some activists vandalised a bus and tried to set it on fire.
‘Police intercepted the unruly activists to stop further vandalism and arson attack. The activists then hurled brickbats at police, prompting the law enforcers to open tears shells and shotgun fire,’ the police officer said.
DC Ashraf said that they had arrested eight to ten people at the spot for vandalism and attacking policemen.
Eight policemen were injured in the brickbat attack by BNP activists.
BNP media wing member Shairul Kabir Khan said that central executive committee member Sheikh Robiul Alam was among the arrested.
BNP leaders and activists said that police intercepted and attacked their procession without any provocation.
