Dhaka, Oct. 11 -- Pitched battles have erupted between Jatiya Party (JaPa) activists and police surrounding a workers' rally called outside the party's central office in Dhaka's Kakrail.

The police dispersed the rally by using baton charges along with firing tear gas shells and sound grenades following the incident, which occurred shortly after 3:30pm on Saturday.

Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner Md Masud Alam said, "They were holding the rally by blocking the entire road. Initially, they were asked to leave the road and hold the rally on one side, but they ignored the request and continued the rally."

Admitting that tear gas shells were lobbed to disperse the crowd, he said at around 4:15pm: "They left approximately half an hour ago...