Protest Against Proposed Woman Development Act
Police disperse procession violating emergency in Sylhet
7 tear gas shells fired, batons charged: 20 hurt
At least 20 people received minor injuries in a chase and counter-chase as police fired seven rounds of tear gas shells and resorted to baton charge to disperse a procession brought out in the city by Qurani Ain Sangrakshan Committee, Sylhet by violating emergency rules. Police also foiled its rally at Court Point and Zindabazar areas.
Its activists were protesting a reported government move to enact the proposed Women's Development Act, 2008 and demanding resignation of the advisor for women affairs Rasheda K Chowdhury.
A police official said the activists of the Islamist forum were allowed to stage human chain only after the Zuma prayers. But, they did not follow emergency rules and tried to bring out a procession, compelling law enforcers to intervene. But the official could not confirm till about 7 pm whether any case was filed in connection with the incidents.
Cctivists of Qurani Ain Sangrakshan Committee held the rally at court Point after Zuma prayers and urged the government not to go ahead with the move to give equal property rights to women. They gave the government a deadline till April 24 for this. The rally continued for about an hour.
Speakers at he rally also announced a fortnight long agitation programme. It includes mass contact from April 7 to 13, procession and rallies at upazila level from April 14 to 23 and Ulama Mashaikh Sammelon on April 24 in Sylhet city. Tougher agitation programmes will be announced on April 24 if the government does not stop the move, they said.
Several thousand people gathered at the Court Point before the Zuma prayers. Three contingents of police were deployed at Zindabazar and Surma Point. Initially police did not stop the processionists from Court Point towards Zindabazar after the rally.
As the protesters started moving towards Chouhatta, police put barricade and resorted to baton charge. The processionists pelted brickbats and shoes at police. A small faction of the processionists managed to reach Chouhatta.
Immediately, the law enforcers fired tear gas shells and dispersed them. Chase and counter- chase continued there for about 20 minutes.
A cameraman of Baishakhi television was injured while the camera of Channel S was damaged during the incident.
Speakers at the rally also said the government has taken steps to bring changes in politics through reforms. But it has not been authorised to change Quranic provisions in the country.
Moulana Abdul Basit Barkatpuri, chief of the committee, chaired the rally, addressed by over 30 people.
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