The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Religious hardliners Friday called off a public rally against the National Women Development Policy, easing fears of the repeat of violence in and around the Baitul Mukarram Mosque after Jum'a prayer yesterday.

The decision came after the Government assured them of meeting their demand and the police tightened security around the national mosque.

Islami Shasantantra Andolon (ISA) and other radical Islamic groups had set April 17 deadline for the Government to scrap the proposed women development policy, which they termed anti-Quran and Sunnah.

They were scheduled to announce an action programme after Jum'a prayer yesterday, which was postponed.

Home Affairs Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin on Thursday 'cautioned that tough action would be taken if anyone tries to create chaos on Friday over the women development policy.'

Witnesses said huge contingent of riot police was stationed outside the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and the Musallis, who went to join the Jum'a prayer were given a thorough body search.

After the prayer, some activists gathered at the north gate of the Mosque, but senior ISA leaders prevented them from staging any agitation, since the programme was called off in the morning.

On last Friday (April 11), Islamic activists engaged in serious clashes with police demanding the cancellation of the policy, in which 200 people including 77 policemen were injured. Meanwhile, a 19-member Alem Committee headed by acting Khatib of Baitul Mukarram Mosque Mufti Noor Uddin submitted its recommendations to the Law and Religious Affairs Adviser Hassan Ariff on the controversial policy.

Several others Islamic groups arranged a joint press briefing yesterday at Baitul Mukarram national masque after juma prayer. The leader of the Islamic groups demanded resignation of Women and Children Affairs Adviser Rashed K Chowdhury. They also cautioned, 'if the Government implements any law against Quran and Sunnah it will be resisted at any cost.'

ISA Ameer and Peer of Charmonai Maulana Mufti Syed Mohammad Rezaul Karim, Islami Shasantantra Andolon joint secretary general ATM Hemayet Uddin, Khelafat Majlis secretary general Yousuf Ashraf, Shaikhul Hadith's son Mamunur Rahman and Maulana Abdur Rob Yusufi, chief of Khelafat Majlish, were present at the meeting. The Government repeatedly assured that it would not enact any law against Quran and Sunnah.