One person was killed in southwest Bangladesh as police fired on a mob of madrassa students protesting government steps to ensure equal property rights for women.The riots occurred in Jessore, 160 miles from the capital Dhaka, after some 500 protesters, mostly madrassa students, suddenly launched attacks against officers with sticks and stones. Witnesses reported that officers fired live bullets on the protesters after they fought with police.
"We shot rubber bullets to disperse the unruly protesters. It appears that a madrassa student has died in the violence. But we are not sure whether he died of police firing," said Jessore police chief, Kamrul Ahsan.
At least dozen others including six police officers were also wounded , said Ahsan, adding three officers were in serious condition after being hit with bamboo sticks.
Islamic groups led by firebrand cleric Mufti Fazlul Haq Amini have called for a nationwide strike on Monday in response to the government's plan.
The government insists that the new policy has no anti-Islamic provisions and invited the groups to a dialogue.