Dhaka  - Bangladesh police on Friday detained 10 Islamists who went on the rampage and clashed with lawmen in central Dhaka, police said.

Activists belonging to Hijb-ut Tahrir, an organisation campaigning for establishing Sariah law, ran riot near Baitul Mokarran National Mosque, said Farid Ahmed, a police officer.

He said the demonstrators attacked police who prevented them from taking to the streets to disrupt traffic. Police used batons to disperse the protesters, leaving at least 20 people injured.

Hijb-ut Tahrir said it was protesting the detention of its members accused by authorities of distributing leaflets with an anti-state and provocative content. (dpa)