Curfew imposed after Bangladesh clashes
Students and members of the public protest in Dhaka
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Wednesday, 22, Aug 2007 03:48
An indefinite curfew has been imposed on Dhaka and other cities by the Bangladeshi army-backed government following violent student protests.
One man has died and at least 100 people are reported to have been injured after police fired tear gas and used batons to deter the protestors.
"Students in all universities in these cities have been asked to vacate their dormitories by 20:00 (15:00 BST) tonight before the curfew begins," Fahim Munaim, spokesman for the caretaker government chief Fakhruddin Ahmed, told the Reuters news agency.
"All universities and the colleges of the six cities have also been ordered closed for an indefinite period."
A government statement added that authorities would take "stern actions against anyone engaged in rowdy and anarchic acts".
Demonstrations began on Monday in the capital and have since spread throughout the country to other cities.
The protests are based on students' frustrations at the presence of the army during a football match at Dhaka University but are now reported to be gaining popular support.
Anger has also grown against the interim government ruling Bangladesh since January and calls have been made for an end to emergency rule and democracy to be restored.