A chase and counter-chase took place between police and BNP leaders and activists in front of Shimanto Square in the capital's Dhanmondi area on Tuesday.
Witnesses said leaders and activists of BNP staged a prescheduled march programme in the area this afternoon to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.
After the end of the programme, they brought out a procession that ended at the Science Lab intersection.
When they were marching towards City College, a chase and counter-chase took place with police around 4pm, triggering a clash.
Later, police lobbed tear gas shells and charged batons to disperse the BNP men.
The BNP activists also hurled brick chips targeting police, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner (Ramna division) Md Ashraf Hossain.
Several vehicles were vandalised and one was set on fire during the clash.
“Police brought the situation under control and arrested some people from the spot,” said DC Ashraf.
He said a group of BNP leaders and activists attacked the police and obstructed the movement of vehicles, forcing the law enforcers to go into action.
He said eight to nine police personnel were injured in the attack. "We have arrested 15 people in this connection.”
Dhaka south city unit BNP Convener Abdus Salam said they ended their road march peacefully near LabAid and asked their leaders and activists to go to their respective destinations.
“But the police attacked our leaders and activists, including Dhanmondi unit President Robiul Islam Robi, when they were returning home, leaving many of them injured,” he said.
Salam condemned this incident and demanded the release of the arrested leaders and activists immediately.
