Army camp withdrawn from Dhaka University after protests

Dhaka, Aug 21 (UNI) Bangladesh's military-backed government finally decided to pull out an army camp from the trouble-torn Dhaka University campus after two days of violent protests by the students that rocked capital today.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by interim government's Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed following the demand by the agitating students who burnt an army car, a police box and smashed scores of passing vehicles in central Dhaka.

The government also decided to conduct a judicial inquiry into the incidents on the campus since yesterday evening when an army man beat up several students and humiliated a teacher during a football match.

The accused army member has been withdrawn from the camp and investigation against him has begun, an official handout said.

The army camp was set up on the campus after the state of emergency imposed on January 11 to keep the campus calm.

The unprecedented student rioting on the campus and surrounding areas today left over 50 people injured as frenzied throngs of protestors broke and burnt dozens of vehicles to press for pullout of army troops garrisoned in the varsity compound.

This is the first major student demonstration since the state of emergency was declared on January 11 amid a political turmoil over the issues of general election, which was later cancelled.

The protests flared up on the second day today after overnight pitched battles since Monday evening.

Soon the violence spread like wildfire to several other colleges and universities in Dhaka and outside where the protestors clashed with police, damaged vehicles and put road barricades by burning tires.

Witnesses said police fired a barrage of teargas shells to drive away the agitating students.

Shops and markets in central Dhaka were shut down in the wake of raging violence. Some shop owners joined the students during the demonstrations and raised anti-government slogans.

The angry students burnt effigies of some government figures and demanded their resignation.

General students put forward a 5-point demand that includes the disbanding of the army camp within 24 hours, "unconditional apology" by Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed for Monday's incident and immediate withdrawal of the police from the campus.

They warned if the demands were not met within next 24 hours, a general strike would be called in all educational institutions across the country.

The DU authorities suspended all pre-scheduled examinations from August 22 to 28.

UNI