Dhaka: Authorities in Bangladesh today ordered an intensified intelligence vigil after overnight attack on a police station by Islamist activists in Chittagong district following violent clashes in Dhaka over a government policy paper on women's rights.

"An intensified security and intelligence vigil has been ordered across the country after yesterday's incidents in Dhaka and Chittagong," a senior police official said.

He said extra policemen were deployed at Hathazari area near the southeastern port city of Chittagong where several thousand madrasa students stormed a police station overnight, over rumours of an Islamic activist being killed in clashes with the riot police.

The activists were waging street protests against the newly formulated national policy to ensure equal rights for women in family property.

The official said the security agencies were also asked to keep an intensified vigil on the rightwing Islamic groups who had vowed to wage a countrywide street campaign despite the interim government issuing a statement that no law would be enacted against the Islamic principles.

At least 15 madrasa students and policemen were injured when students of the Darul Ulum Moin Ul Islam seminary stormed the police station at Hathazari late yesterday, hours after a fierce clash between riot police and rightwing activists in Purana Paltan area in Dhaka left dozens injured.

Students ransacked the police station, set the doors and windows on fire, disabled telecommunications facilities and damaged vehicles parked inside the station, police said.
Source : PTI