DHAKA, 12 April 2008 — About 100 people were injured yesterday as thousands of people fought for hours with police in the Bangladesh capital over equal rights for women, police and officials said.
The roads in front of Dhaka’s main mosque became a battleground as about 5,000 men armed with bamboo sticks and bricks clashed with police, who responded with tear gas and batons, Deputy Police Commissioner Mazharul Islam said.
“They attacked the policemen with bricks and sticks immediately after the weekly Friday prayers. We shot tear gas shells and baton-charged the unruly activists,” Islam said, adding that dozens were injured.
At least 40 policemen were injured as the protesters showered bricks and stones on the helmeted force, Islam said.
More than 50 people, mainly members of Islamic parties, were also injured and were treated in the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said senior nurse Harunur Rashid. Witnesses said 200 were injured, including five news photographers as police fired more than 100 tear gas canisters, some inside the country’s biggest mosque complex called Baitul Mukarram, during the three-hour running battle.
Police said the activists belonging to the Committee to Resist Anti-Qur’an Laws, a coalition of Islamic parties, started the clashes by chasing police.
The protests were against a women’s development policy adopted in March by the government, advocating equal property rights for women.
Dozens were injured in similar clashes on Thursday.
Muslim religious leaders and parties have warned of nationwide demonstrations, saying they will not tolerate any laws that contradict the Shariah.
The policy is not legally binding, but is meant to be used as a guideline for the next Parliament in forming legislation. Parliamentary elections are expected at the end of this year.
Soon after the new policy was announced, the government backed down, explaining it had not been passed into law. No legislation would be passed “that goes against the Qur’an and the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh),” the government said.
Bangladesh, whose population is 90 percent Muslim, has a secular legal system but in matters related to inheritance and marriage Muslims follow the Shariah.
The Qur’an stipulates that a girl inherits half of what her brother gets. Women’s groups have long been demanding equal share.
Supreme Court Chief Justice M. Ruhul Amin yesterday said the demand for equal rights of women in every aspect of life was logical. “Women are about half of the total population. Hence, their demand for equal rights is logical. Then why are various incidents taking place now centering the issue?” he said.
Citing the constitution that guarantees equal rights for women, the chief justice said that without establishing women’s rights Bangladesh will never become a well-educated democratic state.
— With input from agencies
