BANGLADESH: Bangladesh eases curfew after violence subsides

Traffic poured onto the streets of Bangladesh's main cities on Friday (August 24) as the army-backed interim government relaxed a curfew imposed two days ago to quell street violence, allowing people to venture out to buy essentials. A statement from the government said the curfew, which was lifted at 8 a.m. (0200 GMT), would be reimposed at 10 p.m. The curfew -- which shut down public transport, schools, banks, clinics and pharmacies -- was imposed in Dhaka and five other cities on Wednesday after a student-led protest against the presence of troops at a football match at the Dhaka University campus turned violent and spread across the country. The violence subsided on Thursday, as security forces patrolled the streets and the authorities warned they would take stern action against disorder. All universities and colleges in the six cities, including the 40,000-student Dhaka University, were closed indefinitely. Thousands of Muslims went to say prayers at mosques in the Bangladesh capital on Friday noon, and were given entry only after checks by security forces. Witnesses said police stopped every devotee at the gate of the city's largest Baitul Mokarram mosque and conducted body searches, in what police said were normal security precautions. Local resident Khairuddin Ahmed said he was pleased the curfew had been relaxed in time for Friday prayer, "The curfew has caused problems in our daily life but I appreciate that the it is relaxed in time for Friday prayer," he said outside Dhaka's national mosque Baitul Mukarram. Bangladesh has repeatedly suffered unrest and crippling strikes over the past two years, which finally led to the imposition of a state of emergency when the interim government took charge in January.

ITN Source | August 24, 2007

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