Bangla violence subsides after curfew imposed

Dhaka, Aug 23: Bangladesh's usually bustling capital Dhaka looked largely deserted today after an indefinite curfew imposed the previous night by the army-backed interim government in a bid to end days of violence.

Streets were empty except for a few rickshaws and troop carriers with mounted guns. The carriers often forced the few curious onlookers and pedestrians into narrow alleys.

One man was killed and nearly 30 people injured in clashes between police and students, joined by some members of the public, in Dhaka and across the country over the last three days, before the curfew was imposed in the capital and five other main cities.

''Get lost, if you don't want to be arrested,'' a soldier yelled at a Reuters journalist. But reporters managed to stay on their streets by showing their professional identity cards.

The trouble which analysts said had shaken the government but did not appear to pose a serious immediate threat to it started on Monday night.

Violence had followed a troop assault on students then after they protested the presence of soldiers at a football match at Dhaka University's gymnasium compound.

Troops had been based in the complex since January when a military-backed interim administration took power following months of political violence in the country. The government withdrew the army camp on Tuesday night after the clashes.

In a brief televised speech to the nation, Fakhruddin Ahmed, chief of the interim government, called the violence a ''conspiracy'' and said the measures to control it would be withdrawn when the situation improves.

Fakhruddin said ''the steps taken were temporary measures to protect lives and public and private properties as vested quarters had started acts of anarchy in Dhaka and other places.'' Aside from imposing a curfew and putting security forces into the streets, the government has closed down universities and colleges in six cities including Dhaka until further notice, telling students to vacate dormitories.

Deserted Campus

Dhaka University's 40,000-strong campus was deserted on Thursday, with police and troops patrolling nearby streets and no visible protests, witnesses said.

The government warned stern action would be taken against troublemakers, and asked the media not to publish or broadcast ''provocative news or footage'' that could incite more violence.

Bangladesh has already been under various emergency rules since January when the interim government took charge. It promised to hold a free and free election by end of next year, after completing a drive against corrupt politicians.

Political analysts said the students-led protests had shaken the government, with the scenes of street violence reminiscent of turbulent days before the January 11 takeover by the interim authority, but it was in no immediate danger of falling.

They said the student unrest did not necessarily represent widespread public sentiment, while the country's powerful army still looked firmly behind Fakhruddin's administration.

Army chief General Moeen U. Ahmed has repeatedly said the military had no intention of grabbing power.

''We have reasons to believe him, and the recent unrest is purely a campus issue, unfortunately fuelled by vested political groups,'' said Syed Mohammad Shahabuddin, a senior banker and political observer in Dhaka.

Students played a key role in Bangladesh's past political movements but the interim authority recently said it planned to ban student politics, or at least prevent them from working for the major political parties.

This has angered both the students and many of their teachers, education officials said, while the political parties have also supported them and repeated their calls for an immediate end to a nationwide ban on political activity.

The Daily Star said: ''Demands for immediate withdrawal of emergency, however desirable, should not have stemmed from the present situation... we urge upon all concerned to show maximum restraint and not try to exploit the situation for narrow gains.''

REUTERS>