Protests over Bangladesh accord

By Alastair Lawson
BBC correspondent in Dhaka

Protesters in south-east Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts region have blocked roads, cutting the area off from the rest of the country.

They accuse the government in Dhaka of reneging on a peace treaty with tribal insurgents from the Chittagong Hills.

The treaty, signed six years ago, ended a two-decade-long uprising by tribal guerrillas in which thousands died.

Paramilitary and police were out in force to greet Tuesday's protests - the most serious yet since the peace deal.

General strike threat

The protesters accuse the government of destabilising the region by having failed to make peace with the Shanti Bahini rebel group.

Former rebel leader, Shantu Larma, has complained that the security forces are so strong in the Hill Tracts that they resemble an army of occupation in an area that is predominantly inhabited by indigenous people.

Mr Larma's political party says that Tuesday's action will be followed by a general strike in the Hill Tracts next week.

The government says it will staunchly resist the agitation programme.

Its commitment to the peace treaty has been a matter of constant speculation, because it was signed by the opposition when it was in power.