At least 40 people, including 15 policemen, were injured in a clash between police and BNP activists in Banshkhali upazila of Chittagong district on Friday evening, police said.
Officer-in-charge (OC) of Banshkhali police Kamal Uddin was among the injured, said SM Arifur Rahman, inspector (Investigation) of the police station.
Abu Sufian, convener of Chittagong South District BNP, said Banskhali upazila and municipality BNP called the rally as part of the protest programme against the price hike of daily essentials, fuel and transport fares, load shedding and the killing of two BNP leaders in Bhola.
The clash broke out as some BNP leaders and activists tried to bring out a procession following the rally but police prevented them.
"Over 30 BNP activists were injured as police fired gunshots and charged batons," said the BNP leader.
Of the injured, six were admitted to different local hospitals, Abu Sufian added.
"At the end of the rally, the party men brought out a procession and suddenly threw brickbats and vandalized vehicles on the road. When law enforcers tried to prevent them, they attacked, leaving fifteen policemen injured,” said the inspector.
Later, police charged with batons to bring the situation under control, he observed.