Chase and counter-chase between police and BNP activists, and vandalism marked the major opposition BNP’s countrywide march programme on Saturday.

There were reports of clashes in four districts during the BNP's march programme in the districts to demand '10 points for the restoration of democracy'.

Seventeen BNP leaders and several policemen, including Sadar Police Station officer-in-charge, were injured during the clash.Besides, 16 BNP leaders and activists, including the member secretary of district Jubo Dal, were arrested.

The incident took place in front of the BNP office on Amtala Road in the district town around 12:00pm.

According to the programme announced by the BNP, the activists gathered in front of the district BNP office on Amtala Road in the town around noon.

BNP's central health affairs secretary Dr Rafiqul Islam was the chief guest in the gathering. After the rally, BNP activists started marching and police stopped it. At one stage, the scuffle with the activists turned into a clash.

According to the police and locals, the police stopped the BNP leaders and activists taking to the streets in the march programme.       When the conflict broke out between the two sides, the BNP activists started throwing bricks and stones.

The injured were immediately admitted to Sadar Hospital. When BNP activists threw stones at the law enforcers, police charged batons to disperse the mass gathering. Seventeen people were injured during the clash.

In Patuakhali, several people were injured when police charged batonsduring the march.

BNP alleged that Awami League leaders and activists attacked BNP leaders and activists who gathered to take part in the march programme in Netrokona. Before the programme in Natore, crude bombs (cocktails) were thrown from a motorcycle fleet near the BNP office.

The BNP has alleged that at least 40 leaders and activists were detained by the police in Bagerhat.

BNP’s 10-point demand includes reducing the prices of electricity, gas, rice and pulses, oil, sugar, essential commodities, stopping repression, release of jailed leaders and workers including BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, resignation of the government, dissolution of parliament and elections under a non-partisan caretaker government. To realise the demands, BNP announced the march programme in the district.

BNP Standing Committee members and central leaders participated in these programmes.

Awami League's associate organisation Jubo League was on the ground with the programme of peace rally against BNP's march. On Saturday, Jubo League organised peace rallies at district and metropolitan levels.

Leaders and workers of BNP and affiliated organisations from each upazila, union and ward started gathering in different areas, including Parla Bus Station, Banoapara, Kurpara and Moktarpara of Netrokona on Saturday morning to participate in the march programme.

BNP alleges that Awami League leaders and activists attacked the BNP leaders and activists with sticks.At that time, banners, festoons were snatched and set on fire, motorcycles and microbuses were vandalized and several cocktails were exploded.

Police fired two blank rounds in Kurpara area to control the situation. At least 23 members of BNP were injured in the attack.

Netrokona Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khandaker Shaker Ahmed said that BNP leaders and activists tried to create trouble in several places in the district town in the morning.Two people were arrested from there.