Dhaka, March 7 -- Police have fired tear gas and charged batons to break up a rally by banned organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

Scores of Hizb ut-Tahrir members gathered and forced their way past a police barricade at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram on Friday after Jummah prayers.

Clashes erupted and blasts could be heard in the chaos.

As soon as the Jummah prayers ended on Friday, Hizb ut-Tahrir members gathering at the north gate of the mosque began shouting slogans.

They grabbed banners with a Kalima written on it and surged forward when a group of 10 police tried to block their way. The Hizb ut-Tahrir members overwhelmed them before another group of police from Paltan tried to block them and als...