Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- More than 30 people including five law enforcers were injured as activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir men swooped on police and opened fire on them in Katakhali area of Rajshahi Thursday morning.
Over one hundred rounds were shot during the nearly one hour clash that started around 10:00am, SM Moniruzzaman, commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, said.
Jamaat and Shibir activists also blasted at least 15 handmade bombs during the clash.
The law enforcers also rounded up several Jamaat-Shibir men from the scene.
The vehicular movement on Dhaka-Rajshahi highway remained suspended for two hours from 10:00am following the clash.
The clash erupted when over 300 Jamaat-Shibir activists blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway in Shamsadipur area of Katakhali union by setting fire to tyres.
They were demonstrating for scrapping of international crimes tribunals and release of their party leaders including war crimes suspects.
On information, police rushed to the scene and hurled several rounds of teargas canisters to disperse the Jamaat-Shibir men, the police commissioner said.
After facing police resistance, the party men divided into four groups and cordoned off the law enforcers.
At one stage, they party activists opened fire indiscriminately targeting police, the commissioner added.
In retaliation, the law enforcers also fired several rounds of rubber bullets, compelling the party men to retreat.
BBN/SSR/AD-14Feb13-3:18 pm (BST)