The injured include lawmaker Ali Asghar Lobi, member secretary of Khulna City BNP convening committee Shaharuzzaman Martuza, three journalists and 19 policemen. The car of Lobi was badly damaged during the clash that continued for half-an-hour.

The clash erupted when unruly activists belonging to the BNP faction led by Lobi and the city Mayor tried to remove barricades put up by police at Shahid Maharaj square.

They pelted brickbats at security forces who took position near barricades.

Security forces went into action when they came under attack by Lobi loyals. They clubbed the attackers indiscriminately. Chase and counter chase between security forces and BNP activists continued for about half-an-hour at Kalibari square and Shahid Maharaj square, creating Panic among people.

Sub Inspector Shah Alam of Khulna thana who as among the injured said lawmaker Lobi and some other leaders of his faction instigated party activists to remove barricades from Maharaj square.

Barricades in and around Maharaj Square were put up Tuesday evening so that no faction of Khulna BNP can hold rally there.

The rally of Lobi faction was held this afternoon at the Kalibari square with Ali Asghar Lobi in the chair. He shifted the venue from Maharaj square to Kalibari square at the request of KMP Commissi-oner Khan Saeed Hasan.

But the rally could not be held due to clash. Ali Asghar Lobi was later escorted by security forces to his office near Khulna Circuit House field.

KMP Commissioner Khan Saeed Hasan said gathering was banned at Maharaj square for maintaining law and order as both the factions wanted to hold rallies there.

" My forces could not but go into action when they came under shower of brickbats without any provocation", he said.

Lawmaker Lobi could not be contacted for his comment.

The rally was organised as part of a countrywide central programme in protest against Awami League-led agitation for electoral reforms.

The other faction of BNP led by lawmaker Nurul Islam and Nazrul Islam Manju held its rally peacefully at the Sonali Bank Square at Upper Jessore Road.

Nurul Islam, who is former president of Khulna city BNP, presided over the rally, joined by several thousand people including leaders and activists from all the nine upazilas of the district and thana BNP committees.

The rally was addressed by, among others, former secretary of city BNP Nazrul Islkam Manju, JCD central leader Arifuzzaman Apu, Khulna district BNP secretary Shafiqul Alam Mona, Dumuria BNP leader Gazi Abdul Haq and Daulatpur upazila BNP secretary Mir Kashed Ali.

They urged the opposition not to create 'anarchy' in the country in the name of movement. Their aim is to foil the coming election, the speakers said.

The rally was followed by a procession.

A security blanket was thrown in Khulna town yesterday ahead of the BNP factions' programmes. Ten platoons of police and four platoons of BDR were deployed in and around meeting venues of the two factions. All shops in the areas remained closed.