Local Awami League (AL) leader Haji Selim, some 15 policemen, and four journalists were among those wounded in the three-hour clashes.

Witnesses said the skirmishing erupted at about 2:45pm when a Jubo League procession led by Haji Selim came face to face with a group of over 100 alleged associates and supporters of local BNP lawmaker Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu at Chaukbazar Crossroads.

According to a pre-planned schedule, members and supporters of the main opposition AL and its youth wing from Lalbagh and the adjacent areas, including Hazaribagh and Kamrangirchar, were to assemble in Azad Playground before marching toward Paltan to join yesterday's Jubo League grand rally.

But, BNP men had occupied the playground beforehand. To avoid any confrontation, the AL and Jubo League members assembled in Lalbagh Shahi Masjid area, instead of the playground. From there they were marching towards Paltan through Chuakbazar when they confronted Pintu's men.

After a heated exchange of words, the BNP cadres pounced on the opposition men and then both sides engaged each other, wielding sticks and hurling brickbats, locals described. Soon two crude bombs went off.

After about five minutes of the scramble, the BNP men retreated. But, the furious Jubo League members ran amok, setting fire to two motorbikes, damaging some three-wheelers, a vehicle of Dhaka City Corporation and a rickshaw-van, ransacking several shops, throwing brickbats at police, and burning banners, torn cloths and paper boxes in the compound of Lalbagh Police Station.

A few hundred police led by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (South) Additional Deputy Commissioner M Shahriar Rahman then went into action lobbing about 300 teargas shells at the agitators, who pelted the law enforcers with brickbats in return.

The two sides chased and counter-chased, when police too threw stones at the demonstrators. Police also charged baton, and discharged salvoes of rubber bullets and pellets to scatter the opposition mob.

The roads in Chaukbazar and Urdu Road areas were littered with spent teargas shells and brickbats.

Police held about a dozen of Jubo League activists from the spot.

During the pitched battle 15 to 20 policemen were hurt. Twelve of them were admitted to Rajarbagh Police Lines Hospital, Lalbagh police said.

At least 40 injured demonstrators took first aid at Dhaka Medical College and Mitford hospitals.

Jubo League leaders alleged police and BNP activists attacked their people in Water Works Road, Urdu Road and Jail Road areas. They claimed about 300 AL and Jubo League leaders and workers, including the joint secretary of Dhaka City Awami League, were injured in the police actions and the attack by Pintu's men.

They also accused police of firing rubber bullets on their leaders and activists, which police denied.

Talking to The Daily Star last night Nasiruddin Pintu said the allegations against him were baseless. "The AL supporters created a law and order situation that necessitated police intervention. They are now trying to shift the blame on us," he claimed.

On the other hand, DMP Additional DC Shahriar said the violence broke out after a police team stationed at Chaukbazar Crossroads was attacked from a procession led by Haji Selim.