The cases were filed hours after a fierce confrontation between activists of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal and Awami Jubo League over occupation of a place for rally at Lalbagh on Tuesday.

Police then sprang into action, raiding houses of AL leader Haji Selim and some businessmen, who were enforcing a daylong strike of over 40 local business bodies in old Dhaka to protest against a police raid on the business outfit of a local AL leader at Nalgola on Monday.

Two cases were lodged under Speedy Trial Act, two under Explosives Act and two for hampering state activities. Haji Selim, the ex-MP from Dhaka-8 constituency, was implicated in all the cases, police said.

Local Jubo Dal leader Sayed Hasan Mintu filed a case under Speedy Trial Act while Lalbagh police took care of the rest.

A team of police raided the Devi Das Ghat Lane house of Haji Selim at about 2:00am yesterday and ran a thorough search down the seven-storey building. They also searched some other neighbouring houses, family members of the AL leader said.

Meanwhile, local businessmen alleged that BNP activists also raided their houses in the area, hurled abusive words and threatened them of dire consequences if they staged demonstrations in future.

Though most businesses at the old Dhaka area remained open yesterday, most of the shop owners stayed away from their shops apprehending police arrest.