Dozens of people, including activists of Awami League and BNP and police personnel, were injured in clashes between the two parties over holding rallies in Sadar upazila of Patuakhali on Saturday.
Police used teargas to disperse the fighting groups while an additional number of law enforcers have been deployed in the area to avert any untoward incident.
Local BNP leaders said there was a scheduled rally to press home their 10-point demand, including the resignation of the incumbent government and holding the next parliamentary election under a neutral government, in front of the party office in Patuakhali's town's Banani intersection area at 10 am.
BNP activists and leaders from different parts of the district started gathering with processions since the early morning, they said, adding that they were barred by the ruling party activists on their way to the rally venue.
Several clashes broke out between the activists of the parties when an Awami League procession was passing by, locals said.
Brickbats were thrown targeting each other, while BNP's district office was also allegedly vandalized. The rival groups chased each other several times in the area, causing panic among the commuters and locals. A motorcycle was also vandalized.
According to locals, while covering the incident, the cameraperson of Somoy TV Sujan Dam and the district representative of MyTV Moshiur Rahman have been injured after being hit by bricks thrown by both sides.
BNP central leader ABM Mosharraf Hossain said over 200 BNP activists were injured in the attack by Awami League men.
Md Saidul Islam, superintendent of police (SP), said, the situation is now under control and an additional number of policemen have been deployed in front of the BNP office in the town.
The SP said they used teargas to bring the situation under control but instantly could not inform how many rounds were used.
Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mainul Hassan said several policemen were injured in the clash.
Sadar Police Station's Officer-in-Charge, Md Moniruzzaman, said a process was underway to file cases against those who attacked law enforcers and tried to deteriorate the law and order situation.
The district unit of BNP held an emergency press conference in favour of their 10-point demand and protested the "attack" on their rally at a hotel this afternoon.
At the press conference, BNP Vice Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo said the next national polls won't be free and fair without a caretaker government.
Awami League leaders said over 50 of their activists were injured in the attack carried out by the BNP, when they held a peace rally in the morning.
Awami League's district unit President and freedom fighter Kazi Alamgir and Vice President Sultan Ahmad Mridha, among others, spoke at the rally.
The district Awami League president said they will file a case against BNP men for "attacking" their rally.
