Police in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka used tear gas and sound grenades on Friday to disperse hundreds of members of the banned militant group Hizb-ut-Tahrir seeking to march to demand the country's secular democracy be replaced by an Islamic caliphate.

Police in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka used tear gas and sound grenades on Friday (March 7) to disperse hundreds of members of the banned militant group Hizb-ut-Tahrir marching to demand the country's secular democracy be replaced by an Islamic caliphate.

Police say they have arrested 19 members of the banned organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir after they defied restrictions and organised a protest march in capital Dhaka. Hussain Muhammad Farabi, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Motijheel Zone, said the arrests were made following a clash between the marchers and law enforcers.

Chaos unfolded in Dhaka as a banned Islamist group held a rally after Friday prayers, leading to violent clashes with the police. Protesters took to the streets, defying restrictions, while security forces attempted to disperse the crowds.

Tahrir, a radical Islamist organisation banned in Bangladesh since October 2009, carried out its first open rally in Dhaka on Friday. Joined by thousands of its members, the group began the rally from the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Friday prayers.