BNP men and police are clashing in front of the BNP central office at Naya Paltan where the partymen started gathering since morning ahead of the 10 December rally.
Hundreds of BNP men were seen chanting slogans with banners in hand in front of their party headquarters defying Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) directives stating that the party cannot hold their rally on busy Dhaka streets.
However, around 3pm the police fired tear shells and shot blanks to disperse the crowd.
BNP men were repeatedly asked to leave the roads but they denied it. Later, police were forced to take action, said DMP Assistant Commissioner (Motijheel zone) Golam Ruhani.
Earlier, police deployed several armoured vehicles, prison vans and additional striking force in the Naya Paltan area around 12pm.
Previously, addressing the agitated party men and media, BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas said that the government should offer an acceptable alternative for their 10 December rally.
"If the government does not give an acceptable alternative, then our rally will be held in Nayapaltan," said Abbas.