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 Dhanmondi area in the 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 march, 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 4 pm, 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 Deputy Commissioner of Ramna division of DMP Md Ashraf Hossain.

Several vehicles were vandalized and one was set on fire during the clash.

“Police took the situation under control and arrested some people from the spot,” said DC Ashraf.Ashraf said a group of BNP leaders and workers attacked the police and obstructed the movement of vehicles, forcing the law enforcers to go into action.

He said 8/9 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 workers to go to their respective destinations.

“But police attacked our leaders and activists when they were returning home, leaving many of the injured. They also attacked our some leaders and activists, including Dhanmondi unit president Robiul Islam Robi,” he said

Salam strongly condemned this incident and demanded the release of the arrested leaders and activists immediately.