B'desh Army patrols streets to check violence

Dhaka, Aug 23 (UNI) Army, Rapid Action Battalion and riot police patrolled streets in the capital city to enforce the indefinite curfew to check the outbreak of any political disturbance.

The army-backed interim government imposed an indefinite curfew from last night in the capital and five divisional cities of Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Barisal in the wake of unprecedented anti-government protests by students.

All universities and colleges in the six cities were closed sine die and students vacated their dormitories last night. Witnesses said security personnel strictly patrolled the trouble-torn Dhaka University campus and its adjacent areas and beat up people for defying the curfew.

All government, semi-government and autonomous offices and five divisional headquarters were closed.

No untoward incident took place the capital, but report of clashes between police and pickets was received from the northern city of Rajshahi. Information and Law Advisor, Barrister Mainul Hosein has advised print and electronic media to play a responsible role in publishing and broadcasting news under the emergency.

Political activities remain banned under the state of emergency since January 11.

UNI