Bangladesh's military-backed government has ordered an indefinite curfew in Dhaka and other cities after worsening violence between students and police.
Bangladesh's military-backed government has ordered an indefinite curfew in Dhaka and other cities after worsening violence between students and police.
At least one person was killed and 100 others injured as riots by students spread to more universities across the country on Wednesday, police say.
At least one person was killed and 100 others injured as riots by students spread to more universities across the country on Wednesday, police say.
The government has appealed for calm, and warned people not to break the law.
The government has appealed for calm, and warned people not to break the law.
The violence poses the most serious challenge to the emergency government since it took power six months ago.
The violence poses the most serious challenge to the emergency government since it took power six months ago.
More violent
More violent
Clashes between police and students broke out in the capital, Dhaka, on Monday and have since spread to Sylhet in the north and to the southern port city of Chittagong.
Clashes between police and students broke out in the capital, Dhaka, on Monday and have since spread to Sylhet in the north and to the southern port city of Chittagong.
The student protests appear to be growing
The student protests appear to be growing
In all, five main cities plus the capital have been made subject to the overnight curfew.
In all, five main cities plus the capital have been made subject to the overnight curfew.
Universities and colleges in the six cities have been ordered to close and all students told to leave campuses by 2000 local time on Wednesday.
Universities and colleges in the six cities have been ordered to close and all students told to leave campuses by 2000 local time on Wednesday.
Correspondents say the protests are growing, with non-students now joining in.
Correspondents say the protests are growing, with non-students now joining in.
The BBC's Qadir Kallol in Dhaka says slum dwellers, shop keepers, rickshaw pullers and businessmen joined stone-throwing students in violent and bloody demonstrations.
The BBC's Qadir Kallol in Dhaka says slum dwellers, shop keepers, rickshaw pullers and businessmen joined stone-throwing students in violent and bloody demonstrations.
They confronted police who baton charged them and fired tear gas.
They confronted police who baton charged them and fired tear gas.
Our correspondent says the protests appear to be growing more violent across the country, and are turning into a popular movement demanding the immediate restoration of democracy.
Our correspondent says the protests appear to be growing more violent across the country, and are turning into a popular movement demanding the immediate restoration of democracy.
The first casualty of the unrest was a rickshaw puller killed during rioting on Wednesday in the north-western town of Rajshahi, officials said.
The first casualty of the unrest was a rickshaw puller killed during rioting on Wednesday in the north-western town of Rajshahi, officials said.
Police are accused of using tear gas indiscriminately, at one point on Tuesday even firing it into a female students' dormitory at Dhaka University to prevent them from joining the protests.
Police are accused of using tear gas indiscriminately, at one point on Tuesday even firing it into a female students' dormitory at Dhaka University to prevent them from joining the protests.
The military-backed caretaker government has been ruling under a state of emergency since January. It says elections will take place before the end of next year, allowing it time to rid the country of corruption.
The military-backed caretaker government has been ruling under a state of emergency since January. It says elections will take place before the end of next year, allowing it time to rid the country of corruption.
Public apology
Public apology
The violence flared even though the government on Tuesday agreed to one of the main demands from students at Dhaka University for soldiers to withdraw from the campus.
The violence flared even though the government on Tuesday agreed to one of the main demands from students at Dhaka University for soldiers to withdraw from the campus.
The police rather than the army are confronting the protesters
The police rather than the army are confronting the protesters
The pull-out was completed early on Wednesday.
The pull-out was completed early on Wednesday.
In a list of demands, the students say that the army must leave all educational institutions across the country, and those soldiers responsible for beating up students must be punished.
In a list of demands, the students say that the army must leave all educational institutions across the country, and those soldiers responsible for beating up students must be punished.
They have also demanded a public apology from the army chief, Gen Moeen U Ahmed, and medical treatment and compensation for those wounded in the violence.
They have also demanded a public apology from the army chief, Gen Moeen U Ahmed, and medical treatment and compensation for those wounded in the violence.
Clashes began on Monday, when students in Dhaka said they had been "manhandled" by soldiers during a football match, according to police chief Shahidul Islam.
Clashes began on Monday, when students in Dhaka said they had been "manhandled" by soldiers during a football match, according to police chief Shahidul Islam.
There was widespread popular support for the interim government when it came to power, vowing to stamp out corruption before returning the country to democracy.
The violence is in contrast to widespread popular support for the interim government when it came to power.
But discontent has been rising in recent months, most notably over with the rapidly rising cost of living.
But discontent has been rising in recent months, most notably over with the rapidly rising cost of living.
Two other military governments in the past - that of Ziaur Rahman and Muhammad Ershad - were both brought down in protests that were started by students.
Two other military governments in the past - that of Ziaur Rahman and Muhammad Ershad - were both brought down in protests that were started by students.
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