Two women, who were invited to perform at a boat party on Shitalakkhya river, were rescued by police after one of them called 999 and said some of those at the event were planning to rape them.

Anwar Sattar, inspector (Media) of the National Emergency Service, said they received the call around 8:00pm yesterday.

The caller told police that she along with another woman was hired to perform at the boat party -- being attended by around 50 people.

After sunset, some of the participants were not allowing the women to leave. They started harassing the women and were allegedly planning to rape them, the police officer said quoting the caller.

The 999 operators then informed Kapashia Police Station in Gazipur who rushed there with a boat immediately.

Sensing police presence, the youths threw bricks and bottles at police. At one stage, they pushed the police boat with their engine-boat, capsizing the former.

Boatmen from nearby areas rescued the police personnel, Sattar said.

On information, additional police rushed there, rescued the two women and arrested 16 youths while the rest managed to flee, he added.

A police sub-inspector and boatman of the police's boat were injured in the incident.

Md Moniruzzaman, inspector (investigation) of Kapashia Police Station, said a case was filed against 49 persons on charge of attacking police.