Ten leaders and activists of the BNP have been arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at a hotel in Dhaka's Gulshan area in connection with a clash in Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj on Tuesday that left three cops injured.
Based on a tip-off, RAB conducted a drive at the hotel and arrested the BNP men, ASP Imran Khan of RAB (Media Wing) said on Thursday.
At least 20 people, including three policemen, were injured in a clash involving BNP and Awami League activists and police in Araihazar upazila on Tuesday, on the first day of a nationwide three-day blockade called by the BNP.
Witnesses said BNP leaders and activists held a procession in support of the blockade in the area. Later, they blocked a road after putting logs on it and burning tyres. They also vandalized two vehicles, including a BRTC bus, passing through the area, they said.
At the same time, a group of Awami League activists staged a procession against the blockade, triggering a chase and counter-chase between the two groups.
The area turned into a battlefield when the police arrived and fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells to disperse them. Twenty people were injured during the clash.
Ahsan Ullah, officer-in-charge of Araihazar police station, said three policemen were injured as attackers stabbed them.
