DHAKA -- At least 30 people were hurt on Saturday when police clashed with demonstrators at a political rally called to protest the soaring food costs and a deadly crime wave sweeping Bangladesh.

The price of food, including Bangladesh's staple rice, edible oils and spices had risen by an average 30 percent since last month, government officials said. On average, criminals have killed 10 people a day since June, police said.

The main opposition party, the Bangladesh Awami League, was staging a rally when police, armed with batons, tried to disperse the crowd, witnesses said.

"We dispersed them to maintain public security and protect state properties," a Dhaka metropolitan police officer said.

But the Awami League leaders said the police attack was in violation of their democratic rights.

"The government must resign as it failed to ensure security to people's life and failed to control spiralling of prices of essential commodities," senior Awami League leader Abdus Samad Azad told the rally before the police action.

He also demanded withdrawal of false graft cases filed against Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina and warned unless the party would launch a massive movement against the government, AFP reported.