DHAKA, Dec 7, 2022 (BSS) - A clash took place between BNP activists and police in the city's Naya Paltan area, leaving one person dead and several others injured, while police alleged that they came under attack near BNP's central party office without any provocation. 

The deceased was Makbul Hossain (30), DMCH Police Outpost in-charge (inspector) Bachchu Mia told media. 

The body was kept at Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue.

Sources said BNP activists started gathering on the streets in front of BNP's Naya Paltan office this afternoon ahead of their December 10 rally for which BNP is yet to get permission from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on the ground. Such a public rally on the streets would hamper traffic movement and also pose a threat to safety and security of people as well as their property.
 
Earlier, the DMP gave BNP permission to hold its rally in Suhrawardy Udyan, but BNP is adamant to stage the rally on the streets in front of its Naya Paltan office and party activists started gathering there this afternoon.
 
At one stage, the BNP activists took position on the road blocking the vehicular movement. 

Police deployed in the Naya Paltan area tried to remove the BNP activists from the road that led to the clashes between them. 

The BNP activists attacked police with pelted brickbats while police resorted to baton charge and lobbed teargas shells to disperse them. The BNP supporters took shelters in different lanes and by-lanes near BNP office and continued to clash with police. 

After the clash, police took position in the streets near BNP central office and at one stage they entered BNP office and searched different rooms on information that hand-made bombs and sticks were kept there. Police picked up some people from there.
 
Police seized a truck loaded with sacks of rice near BNP office. Several motorbikes were also seized and taken to Motijheel police station, joint commissioner of DMP Biplab Kumar Sarker told journalists.

He said those who instigated carrying out attacks on police have been arrested, but it is not possible to immediately tell the names and identity of all.

Bombs were hurled several times targeting police personnel from second floor of BNP office and at that period, BNP workers were inside the office.