The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Saturday said that the government and the ruling Awami League attacked Saturday’s rally as part of a master plan out of fear of losing power as several lakh people joined street protests.

‘When they [government] see that lakhs of people have joined the street protests ignoring obstacles, they have planned and attacked our gathering,’ BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said in a statement.

He said that the BNP strongly condemned and protested against AL and police attacks on BNP rally.

‘I demand immediate release of those arrested, wish the recovery of the injured and appeal to the people to make tomorrow’s strike a success,’ he said.

He said that a BNP leader was killed in police firing and more than 1,000 BNP leaders and activists and many journalists were injured in police attacks.  

He said that injured BNP activists were admitted to different city hospitals.

‘More than 300 activists have been arrested since Saturday morning. In past few days, the police arrested more than 2,000 BNP leaders and activists,’ he said.

He also said that the public transports, including buses, trains and launches were stopped when the government could not stop BNP’s mass rally.

The clashes were reported in Dhaka city on the day during BNP pre-announced rally at Naya Paltan demanding resignation of the Awami League.