POLICE used batons and stun grenades to disperse thousands of members of banned group Hizbut Tahrir today as they marched near Baitul Mokarram Mosque in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka.

Officers said many people were injured and several protesters were arrested during the violence, which came after weekly prayers.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Masud Alam said attempts were made to disperse the rally after marchers broke away from the police barricade. Witnesses said scores of people were injured.

The incident happened when between 3,000 to 5,000 protesters joined the procession, chanting slogans such as “Freedom has one path, Khilafat, Khilafat” and “Naraye Taqbir, Allahu Akbar.”

The Islamist group has mounted a social and print media campaign in recent days, distributing leaflets and posters across Dhaka urging people to join the procession, dubbed March for Khilafat.

Hizbut Tahrir says it wants unification of all Muslim countries over time in a unitary Islamic caliphate, headed by a caliph elected by Muslims. It also wants the introduction of Sharia law.

The group was banned in 2009 as a “threat to public security” by the government of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina under an anti-terrorism law.