Uneasy calm after Bangladesh riot

The government is determined to end university violence

By Alastair Lawson BBC correspondent in Dhaka

An uneasy calm has descended on the main university campus in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, following clashes between police and students.

To stop the destruction of the student community, the government will do anything within their power

Foreign Minister Morshed Khan

At least 20 students were injured when police fired tear-gas and rubber bullets at students protesting at the earlier arrest of 18 female students in a raid on their dormitory.

Student leaders say the women were molested by the police prior to their arrest.

The police have defended their actions, saying that the women are suspected of having taken part in violent protests.

Violent hotbeds

The university campuses of Bangladesh are notorious for being hotbeds of violence but Wednesday's confrontation between hundreds of students and police was the most violent in many months.

The campus violence has spread

The latest trouble began when two student groups from rival political factions clashed over an initiative to remove a provost from one of the main halls of residence at Dhaka University.

The unrest spread to other areas of the university, attended by 25,000 students, and on Wednesday morning armed police raided a women's dormitory.

The arrest of 18 female occupants provoked large demonstrations on the university forecourt, culminating in police firing rounds of tear-gas and rubber-bullets.

The police insist they arrested the women on suspicion of carrying out violent acts.

Government concern

The government of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia says it is determined to bring an end to university violence, in which students armed with guns and knives frequently attack each other.

Foreign Minister Morshed Khan defended the use of rubber bullets and tear gas by the police. "We can ill afford to have conflict among our younger generation," he said, "fresh blood, fresh minds, they should not be destroyed.

"So, to stop the destruction of the student community, the government will do anything within their power and within their right," Mr Khan said.

The authorities are now anxious to stop the violence deteriorating further on Thursday.

The students say they will stage a sit-in, boycott classes and demonstrate for the removal of the vice chancellor of the university whom they accuse of condoning police mistreatment of female students.