The BNP has declared a nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal on Sunday (29 October). 

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir suspended "grand" rally in the capital's Nayapaltan on hold and announced the hartal today (28 October).

Earlier, the party started the rally around 1pm. 

However, as clashes around the capital – centring the AL and BNP rallies – began to intensify, BNP leaders paused their speeches during the programme at Nayapaltan, before going on to suspend the programme.

The rally was suspended at 2:15 pm as police fired rubber bullets, sound grenades and lobbed tear gas shells, forcing the BNP leaders and activists to leave the rally venue, the UNB reports.

The BNP leaders also set fire on papers on the streets protesting the police attack.

A tense situation has been prevailing in Dhaka's Nayapaltan area amid huge presence of police, RAB, members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

Many BNP activists, as well as reporters from Ittefaq and Kalbela, sustained injuries in a series of clashes with police which began earlier today.

The BNP organised the rally to press home for the government's resignation, elections under a non-partisan, neutral government, and the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Kakrail clash

Around 11:30am, a clash broke out between the leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League and BNP at the capital's Kakrail Masjid Intersection on Saturday.

BNP activists and police engaged in chase and counter-chase, with law enforcers firing tear gas shells. 

The clash led to the Kakrail police box and a car being set on fire in the area.

Additional Commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) Harun-or-Rashid said that some BNP activists attacked police in front of the Judges' Residence Complex in Dhaka's Kakrail. 

"Some policemen were injured. Furthermore, they carried out an attack, vandalised and set some vehicles on fire in front of IDB Bhaban at Kakrail," he said while talking with reporters in front of Kakrail Church. 

"We will identify those involved and take appropriate action," he said, noting that police have video footage of the incidents.

At present, BGB members are deployed at the Kakrail Church crossing.

According to eyewitnesses, the clash was sparked when a convoy led by former Gazipur mayor Mohammad Jahangir Alam was en route to Gulistan through Moghbazar. In the meantime, BNP leaders and workers had already gathered along the route from Kakrail to the Arambagh junction. 

The bus carrying Awami League activists was blocked from proceeding to Gulistan, sparking a clash between the two groups.