An indefinite curfew is in force in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, and five other cities, to try to stop violent clashes between police and students.
An indefinite curfew is in force in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, and five other cities, to try to stop violent clashes between police and students.
At least one person died and 100 others were hurt as riots spread across the country, police said. The students want an end to emergency rule.
At least one person died and 100 others were hurt as rioting by students - who want an end to emergency rule - spread across the country, police report.
The mobile phone network has been shut down and the government has urged calm.
The mobile phone network has been shut down and the government has urged calm.
For now the curfew seems to have brought the situation under control, says the BBC's John Sudworth in Dhaka.
Clashes broke out in the capital on Monday, and have since spread to other parts of the country, including Sylhet in the north and the port of Chittagong in the south.
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.
Clashes broke out in the capital, Dhaka, on Monday, and have since spread to other parts of the country, including Sylhet in the north and the port of Chittagong in the south.
'Evil forces'
'Evil forces'
The curfew started at 2000 local time on Wednesday (1400 GMT).
The curfew started at 2000 local time on Wednesday (1400 GMT).
Dhaka, normally choked with traffic, is very quiet, our correspondent says.
Some people are being allowed to travel through the checkpoints, mostly on foot or bicycle rickshaw, but the roads, still patrolled by the army, are empty.
We request channels to stop televising footage of violence until further notice because this might instigate further violence Government adviser Mainul Husein
We request channels to stop televising footage of violence until further notice because this might instigate further violence Government adviser Mainul Husein
People hurried home to beat the curfew, some holding their arms in the air as they passed the lines of riot police, to demonstrate they were not protesters, says the BBC's John Sudworth at Dhaka University.
But some criticised the move, saying they were not given enough notice.
"I am sure that I won't get any vehicle on the way, so I am going and I am walking on foot," one man told BBC News.
"So I think if the government would declare it at 10pm then it would be suitable for us - this would have given us more time."
Late on Wednesday, the head of the caretaker government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, addressed the nation.
Late on Wednesday, the head of the caretaker government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, addressed the nation.
He said "evil forces" and opportunists were trying to foment anarchy, but he promised the curfews were only a temporary measure.
He said "evil forces" and opportunists were trying to foment anarchy, but he promised the curfews were only a temporary measure.
Universities and colleges in the six cities have been ordered to close and all students told to leave. Television stations have been ordered to stop broadcasting footage of the violence.
Universities and colleges in the six cities have been ordered to close and all students told to leave. Television stations have been ordered to stop broadcasting footage of the violence.
The student protests appear to be growing
The student protests appear to be growing
Correspondents say the protests appear to be growing more violent, and are turning into a popular movement demanding the immediate restoration of democracy.
Correspondents say the protests appear to be growing more violent, and are turning into a popular movement demanding the immediate restoration of democracy.
Slum dwellers, shop keepers, rickshaw pullers and businessmen joined stone-throwing students in violent and bloody demonstrations in Dhaka. They confronted police who baton charged them and fired tear gas.
Slum dwellers, shop keepers, rickshaw pullers and businessmen joined stone-throwing students in violent and bloody demonstrations in Dhaka. They confronted police who baton charged them and fired tear gas.
The first casualty of the unrest was a rickshaw puller killed during rioting in the north-western town of Rajshahi, officials said.
The first casualty of the unrest was a rickshaw puller killed during rioting 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.
Apology sought
Apology sought
Monday's clashes began when students in Dhaka said they had been "manhandled" by soldiers during a football match.
Monday's clashes began when students in Dhaka said they had been "manhandled" by soldiers during a football match.
The police rather than the army are confronting the protestersViolence continued even though a student demand that troops be withdrawn from the Dhaka campus was met early on Wednesday.
The police rather than the army are confronting the protestersViolence continued even though a student demand that troops be withdrawn from the Dhaka campus was met early on Wednesday.
The students have also demanded a public apology from the army chief, Gen Moeen U Ahmed, and want soldiers who have beaten up students to be punished.
The students have also demanded a public apology from the army chief, Gen Moeen U Ahmed, and want soldiers who have beaten up students to be punished.
The violence is in contrast to widespread popular support for the interim government when it came to power in January promising to stamp out corruption and to hold elections by the end of 2008.
The violence is in contrast to widespread popular support for the interim government 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.
But discontent has been rising in recent months, most notably over the increasing 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.
Keeping the peace will now be the major test of this government's authority, our correspondent says.
Keeping the peace will now be the major test of this government's authority, our correspondent says.
Are you in Bangladesh? Send us your reaction to the riots using the form below:
Are you in Bangladesh? Send us your reaction to the riots using the form below:
