Naya Paltan in the capital yesterday

(Clockwise from top left) An armoured personnel carrier of Bangladesh Police roars down Naya Paltan in the capital yesterday to disperse BNP activists who had gathered at a rally to protest the 'disappearance' of BNP Organising Secretary (Sylhet Division) M Ilias Ali. BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir addresses the rally. Police obstruct BNP leaders as they try to bring out a procession afterwards. A bomb explodes before Jonaki Cinema Hall. A member of Rapid Action Battalion threatens to shoot BNP activists with an automatic rifle if they did not come out of hiding from inside a building. Photo: STAR