Jubo League, the youth front of Awami League (AL), organised the rally in the afternoon in front of AL headquarters, which police encircled with barbed wire fences.

Police swooped on the Jubo League activists twice, chasing them into the party office, and lobbed teargas shells at them as they gathered near Golap Shah Mazar and tried to proceed towards the party office in a procession.

Later, when the Jubo League workers, led by Sayeed Khokon, removed the barbed wire fences and tried to enter the party office area, police launched a baton-charge, injuring at least 15.

Addressing the rally, AL leader Motia Chowdhury blasted the government for what she said was its 'despotic' behaviour with opposition activists and blamed the 'fundamentalist forces' for the arson attack.

Jubo League President Jahangir Kabir Nanak chaired the rally, where AL leaders Obaidul Kader, Abdul Mannan and Mirza Azam MP also spoke.