Dhaka teacher release 'imminent'

Anti-government rioting took place on campuses across the country

Four Dhaka university professors who were accused of inciting violence in August are likely to be released imminently, Bangladeshi officials say.

Earlier, a court cleared the four on a charge of inciting violence.

Officials say that the government has now decided to drop other cases against them relating to disturbances on the university campus.

They say that the four will be freed as soon as possible, even though they face another trial verdict on Tuesday.

Correspondents say that the government will insigate eforts to free them regardless of Tuesday's verdict.

The teachers were alleged to have urged students to protest against the imposition of an emergency by the military-backed caretaker government.

The teachers, detained since August, deny any role in the violence.

A court on Monday acquitted 11 other students at the same time as clearing the four in one of the cases filed against them.

But four other students, who have been listed as missing since the violence, were sentenced to two years in prison each.

The sentences follow weeks of peaceful protests on the university campus.

'No role'

Metropolitan Magistrate Habibur Rahman Siddiqui ordered the teachers to be released from their detention, the United News of Bangladesh reported.

But his ruling was not carried out because prison authorities said they faced other charges which have now all been dropped apart from the case on Tuesday.

The 20-22 August demonstrations began at Dhaka university after students were allegedly beaten up by army personnel. Unrest rapidly spread to other towns in the country.

That led to the emergency government imposing a seven-day curfew.

The protests left at least one person dead and hundreds injured.

Bangladesh has been under emergency rule since January 2007.