At least 50 people were injured during a clash between the lawyers loyal to the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and police in the capital’s old Dhaka on Tuesday.

Eyewitness said pro-BNP lawyers brought out a protest march demanding resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in front of the Dhaka Bar Association office.

Starting in front of the Dhaka Bar, the march was intercepted by police when it reached the main road in front of the Dhaka court.

Later on, the lawyers sat down on the main road facing the police barricades about 12 noon defying the law enforcers’ pressure to clear out. It led to a clash with the police baton-charged on them, leaving at least 46 pro-BNP lawyers injured.

Among the injured lawyers are Mahbubur Rahman Khan, Dewan Ripon, Mojahidul Islam Sayem, KM Miraj Hossain, Saidur Rahman Sohag, KM Barkat Sabuj, Mahbub Alam Akhtar, Shafiqul Islam, Zahirul Islam, Haji Md. Mohsin, Kazi Panir and SM Humayun Kabir.

Following the clash the pro-BNP lawyers took position at the main gate of the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court to have renewed clashes with the police.

Mahbub Uddin Khokon, joint secretary general of BNP, said, ‘Our today’s marching procession programme was peaceful but the police swooped on the lawyers and carried out attacks like terrorists when they came out from the court.’

Khokon, also former general secretary of the Supreme Court Lawyers Association, alleged that the police beat up the lawyers indiscriminately and also tortured the women lawyers.

He said ‘Everyone now aspires to be like ADC Harun. It is evident that even justice under this government is double-faced. When ADC Harun assaulted our students and attacked our lawyers at the Supreme Court, nothing was done. But when he mistreated two leaders of the ruling government’s student wing, only then was he suspended.’