Curfew re-imposed in Bangladesh

Bangladesh's military-backed government has re-imposed a curfew aimed at quelling three days of rioting in which one person was killed and 30 injured.

The curfew, first imposed on Wednesday, had been lifted for three hours to allow people to buy essential supplies.

Correspondents say the government clearly believes there is still a danger of further unrest.

Mobile phone networks are blocked and universities closed. The capital Dhaka and other cities are said to be calm.

Two previous Bangladeshi military governments have been felled in protests started by students.

At least one person died and several hundred were hurt as rioting broke out in the capital on Monday among demonstrators demanding an end to emergency rule.

'Evil forces'

The violence spread to five other cities, including Sylhet in the north of the country and the port of Chittagong in the south.

"The curfew will be relaxed from 1600 to 1900 in the interests of the people"
Government spokesman

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The BBC's John Sudworth in Dhaka said traffic tentatively returned to the streets when the curfew was lifted, between 1600 and 1900 local time (1000 and 1300 GMT).

The government declared Thursday a public holiday and ordered universities and colleges across the country to shut.

The head of the caretaker government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, has accused "evil forces" and opportunists of trying to foment anarchy.

Monday's clashes began when students in Dhaka said they had been "manhandled" by soldiers during a football match.

Slum dwellers, shopkeepers, rickshaw pullers and businessmen joined the violent clashes in the capital against police who baton-charged them and fired tear gas.

The interim government initially enjoyed widespread popular support when it came to power in January promising to stamp out corruption and to hold elections by the end of 2008.

But discontent has been rising in recent months, most notably over the increasing cost of living.

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