At least 22 people including three members of law enforcement agencies were killed and many others injured in fierce clashes between the lawmen and the Islamist Group Hefazat-e-Islam.
The clashes broke out at different places of the capital since Sunday afternoon and continued till early Monday.
Bodies of 11 victims, including a policeman, were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Mozammel Haq, a police inspector based at the hospital said, an AFP report says.
Officials at three private clinics in Dhaka confirmed that they had received 11 other bodies.
At 2:30am on Monday, about 5,000 law enforcers including police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) conducted a joint drive to oust thousands of Hefazat activists from Shapla Chattar intersection in city’s commercial district Motijheel.
Earlier, the lawmen asked the gathering a number of times using megaphones to leave the spot peacefully.
However, Hefazat leaders and activists continued their protest at the venue even after midnight.
The protesters also hurled provocative words at the law enforcers when they were asked to leave.
As soon as the lawmen went on a joint operation using rubber bullets, stun grenades (flashbang) and tear-shells towards the protesters, the Hefazat activists retaliated stoning at them.
The protesters, however, left the intersection within 15 minutes from the beginning of the drive.
The demonstrators left the spot through an escape route meant for them.
The law enforcers started marching towards the venue through several roads at a time.
The Hefazat activists occupied Shapla Chattar since Sunday afternoon pressing the government to meet their 13-point demand including punishment to the so-called atheists.
Hundreds of Hefazat activists were also seen leaving Motijheel peacefully at the presence of law enforcers while many fled from the spot minutes after the clash broke out.
At least four people have died, reports our correspondent.
Ekattor TV, as of this morning, confirmed that 11 were dead. At least 70-80 Hefazat activists sustained injuries during the operation. Many protesters were dragged away into police vehicles after police “cleared” the area within an hour of the operation.
From Sunday afternoon, Hefazat activists had been fighting with the members of law enforcement agencies for hours at different places mainly in Purana Paltan, Dainik Bangla intersection and Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital.
The clashes led to causalities and injured many including the law enforcers and journalists.
The protesters also burned down dozens of shops and vehicles spreading panic across the capital.
Even, the Hefazat activists attacked the offices of the ruling Awami League and Communist Party of Bangladesh.
