Dhaka: Bangladesh's usually bustling capital Dhaka looked largely deserted on Thursday, after the army-backed interim government imposed an indefinite curfew the previous night in a bid to end days of violence.
Streets were empty except for a few rickshaws and troop carriers with mounted guns. The carriers often forced the few curious onlookers and pedestrians into narrow alleys.
One man was killed and nearly 300 people injured in clashes between police and students, joined by some members of the public, in Dhaka and elsewhere over the last three days before the curfew was imposed in the capital and five other main cities.
The trouble -- which analysts said had shaken the government but did not appear to pose a serious immediate threat to it -- started on Monday night.
Violence had followed a troop assault on students after they protested the presence of soldiers at a football match at Dhaka University's gymnasium compound.
Troops had been based in the complex since January when a military-backed interim administration took power following months of political violence. The government shut down the army camp on Tuesday night after the clashes.
In a televised speech, interim government chief Fakhruddin Ahmed called the violence a "conspiracy" and said measures to control it would be withdrawn when the situation improves.
Fakhruddin said "the steps taken were temporary measures to protect lives and public and private properties as vested quarters had started acts of anarchy in Dhaka and other places."
Aside from imposing a curfew and putting security forces into the streets, the government has closed down universities and colleges in six cities including Dhaka until further notice, telling students to vacate dormitories.
The country's leading newspaper, the Daily Star, said: "The government for its part could no longer remain a passive bystander to the turmoil. What started off as spontaneous protest by students had regrettably been taken over by politically motivated elements."
Dhaka University's 40,000-strong campus was deserted on Thursday, with police and troops patrolling nearby streets and no visible protests, witnesses said.
The government warned stern action would be taken against troublemakers, and asked the media not to publish or broadcast "provocative news or footage" that could incite more violence.
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