Mirza Fakhrul detained

Police on Monday detained BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir after the opposition alliance called a daylong nationwide shutdown for Tuesday.

Its scheduled rally ended in chaos triggered by explosions of at least four crude bombs in front of the BNP’s headquarters.

The blasts took place around 4:45pm when Fakhrul was addressing the supporters. The rally ended abruptly amid chaos.

Soon after, Fakhrul gave the strike call as the opposition supporters started demanding one for Tuesday.

Fakhrul alleged the government had ordered police to unleash violence. “Their (the government’s) henchmen are attacking our peaceful rallies,” he said and urged the party supporters to take stand against such moves.

"The government is showing autocratic attitude. I am on bail from the High Court. I don't know yet why they are taking me away. Is there any senior police official? Ask him to come, I am on bail,” he said.

He blamed the government for Monday's explosions. "The government has done it," he said before he was taken away.

Around 6:15pm, police picked up Fakhrul. "Democracy is being killed. You know I am on bail from the High Court, but they are taking me away," he said amid police cordon.

Fakhrul moved to the second floor of his party headquarters after the rally ended abruptly. The law enforcers whisked him away him from there.

The law enforcers also picked up the BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi from the spot.

Around 40 opposition activists have been arrested from inside the headquarters while many others are still inside it.

DMP's Motojheel Zone ADC Mehedy Hasan told reporters they would search the four-storey BNP headquarters and more arrests could be made for the opposition unleashing chaos in the area for about an hour.

He said security officials would conduct a thorough search in the building where many others including former DCC Mayor and minister Sadeque Hossain Khoka took refuge.

By evening police took full control of the area. Traffic remained off the streets near the headquarters.

Police were conducting a search in the BNP headquarters.

By evening, police took full control of the area. Traffic remained off the streets near the headquarters.