The workers of Awami League (AL)-led 14-party opposition alliance were demonstrating against Saidee's visit when the Shibir men in tandem with police swooped on them at places across Bandar.

Earlier the local units of the opposition alliance had declared the lawmaker persona non grata for his involvement in mass killings during the Liberation War and the recent upsurge of the Islamist militants.

The Jamaat leader attended the programme arranged to inaugurate the Hajipur Talimul Millat Madrasa at Hajipur but not before a huge cordon was formed around the venue by police and cadres of Shibir, the student wing of ruling coalition partner Jamaat-e-Islami.

Commerce Ministry Adviser Barkatullah Bhulu was scheduled to address the programme as the chief guest, but he did not show up.

Since early in the morning, opposition workers led by local leaders took position at different points along the route that Saidee was to use to be in the upazila headquarters. A huge number of protesters lined the roads at Madanpur Crossing on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway, Langalbandh, Nabiganj, Swalper Char and CSD Ghat and chanted slogans against him and his party. They also waved black flags.

The clash between the opposition activists and police broke out in Swalper Char area at about 9:30am when the law enforcers baton-charged the demonstrators. Police chased the opposition men trying to put up barricades on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway in Madanpur Bus Stand area.

Shibir cadres joined the police in attacking the opposition workers near Bandar Bus Stand at about 10:30am. In reply, the demonstrators pelted stones at the law enforcers, leading to an hour-long clash, said witnesses.

The left Bandar thana Swechha Sebok League leader Shah Alam, thana Chhatra League President Nazmul Hasan Arif, Gono Forum leader Zahirul Haq and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader Abdul Qadir were among the injured admitted to different hospitals in Narayanganj town. Indiscriminate baton charge by the police resulted in head injuries top a number of protesters.