Cop threat to woman partly stripped during hartal alleged

The law enforcers visited the residence of Nasima Ferdousi, vice-president of Dhaka city's north unit of the Mahila League, who was assaulted by police during the hartal on September 27, and warned her not to come public with the facts, they said.

The Mahila League, women front of the main opposition Awami League, held a press conference at the Bangabandhu Avenue office of the party to protest the attack.

Police also visited the residence of another Mahila League leader, Nazma Hossain Baby, who witnessed the incident, they said.

Some policewomen tore down the clothes of Nasima near the Saarc Fountain on the hartal day while she was demonstrating along with other fellow leaders and activists.

Nasima while addressing the press conference brushed aside the government's claim that her clothes were torn down by her fellow party activists. She described the incident and said at least 15 policewomen surrounded her and started beating her with clubs when they reached the Saarc Fountain.

"Nazma Hossain Baby, a leader of the Mohila League, helped me when my clothes were torn down by the policewomen," she said.