Hundreds of supporters of Bangladesh's main Islamic party have attacked police in a busy commercial district in the nation's capital, leaving many including at least eight security officials injured.

Dhaka Metropolitan police official Abul Hossain says the activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami party beat police officers Monday after their procession was challenged in Dhaka's Motijheel area.

The party has been demanding a halt to the trials of its top leaders facing charges of crimes against humanity involving the nation's 1971 independence war against Pakistan.

Hossain says several vehicles have either been set on fire or vandalized during the attack.