It was around 11:30am.

As part of the BNP's countrywide human chain programme, the party's Dhaka city unit formed a human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club.

Blocking one side of the road, BNP leaders and activists gather in front of the capital's Jatiya Press Club yesterday, demanding party Chairperson Khaleda Zia's release from jail. Photo: Anisur Rahman, Palash Khan

Hundreds of party leaders and activists thronged the venue and vehicular movement apparently came to a halt on one side of the street.

At one point, plainclothes law enforcers brandishing firearms detain Shafiul Bari Babu, president of Swechchhasebak Dal, second from right, from the area. Photo: Anisur Rahman, Palash Khan

Soon senior leaders started delivering speeches. Meanwhile, front and associate body leaders started leaving the spot to avoid police harassment.

At 11:45am, Swechchhasebak Dal President Shafiul Bari Babu entered the press club to escape police arrest. Some journalists were inside the press club and there were some BNP leaders also.

A BNP supporter throws a brick chip at law enforcers. Photo: Anisur Rahman, Palash Khan

Immediately afterwards, some people entered the press club. Nobody suspected anything.

All on a sudden, they encircled Babu and tried to take him away. People were confused seeing the situation as there was no sign of the presence of law enforcers.

Agitated, some people started throwing helmets kept on motorbikes parked inside the club, targeting the bunch of people who were scuffling with Babu.

Situation changed suddenly.

Broken windowpanes of the secretariat in the area. Photo: Anisur Rahman, Palash Khan

The ones in a tussle with Babu took out their firearms and shouted that they were cops. 

BNP leaders and activists soon started leaving the place. The cops detained Babu and left the place boarding a microbus, and entered the secretariat. 

Aggrieved by the detention, BNP supporters allegedly vandalised some windowpanes of the Secretariat.

As a result of the agitation programme, a long tailback ensued on Topkhana Road. Photo: Anisur Rahman, Palash Khan

Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said members of detective branch (DB) of police were assisting the uniformed policemen to arrest Babu.Jafar Ali Biswas, inspector (investigation) of Shahbagh Police Station, said Babu is an accused in cases filed with Shahbagh and Ramna police stations.