Deal to end Bangladesh mine row

Protesters clash with police in Dhaka

A deal has been reached in Bangladesh over a controversial coal mining project that has sparked clashes, the BBC has learned.

Protesters and negotiators say that under the terms of the agreement, the four-day protest against the British firm Asia Energy will be halted.

In return, negotiators are to recommend to the government abandoning the mining project in the north of the country.

Families of victims killed and hurt in the clashes will also be compensated.

The deal must be ratified by the Bangladeshi cabinet. Experts say it is by no means a foregone conclusion.

Protesters are angry over the mining project, at Phulbari in Dinajpur district, 350km (220 miles) north-west of capital, Dhaka, which they say will displace thousands of families and damage the environment.

Asia Energy says it will adequately compensate those affected if allowed to develop the mine.

Opposition blamed

Earlier, a police officer was killed during clashes in Dhaka.

He was hit by a stone thrown by the demonstrators and died of his injuries in hospital, senior police officer Kohinoor Miah said.

Schools, transport and offices were shut in response to a day-long general strike in the country, which had been called by the 14-party opposition alliance led by the Awami League of the former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh's Home Minister, Lutfozzaman Babor, blamed the opposition alliance for the death of the officer.

But an opposition spokesman, Abdul Jalil, denied the allegation, saying the officer apparently died of a heart attack.

Huge project

At least three people were killed on Saturday after police opened fire on protesters who tried to storm the office of Asia Energy in Phulbari.

The protesters then went on the rampage, ransacking and setting fire to the company facilities there.

On Monday, Asia Energy pulled out all of its staff from Phulbari.

Asia Energy is planning to operate an open-cast coal mine which will entail relocating an estimated 40,000 people from their homes.

The proposed mining area will affect more than 100 villages - among them communities of the Santhal, Munda and Mahali tribes - and the destruction of acres of fertile agricultural land.

Asia Energy says it has submitted a scheme of development and a feasibility study for the Phulbari mine and is awaiting final government authorisation to start mining.