Dhaka quiet after clashes

Press, 18 February 1983, Page 8

Dhaka quiet after clashes

NZPA-Reuter Dhaka Bangladesh's military ruler, Lieutenant-General Hossain Ershad. made his first public appearance in the capital. Dhaka (formerly Dacca) yesterday as student unrest in the country died down. General Ershad visited the city’s Government secretariat in his first appearance since Monday when a student demonstration developed into bloody clashes with the police and quickly spread to other main cities.

Five people were killed and more than 100 were injured in Dhaka, Chittagong, and Rajshahi.

A 12-hour night curfew clamped on Dhaka was relaxed on Wednesday by five hours and troops were replaced by police on city streets as the authorities appeared to be in control of {he situation. But two more universities were shut down on Wednesday to prevent more clashes. Earlier the authorities had closed all educational institutions in Dhaka. Chittagong, and Rajshahi until February 27.

General Ershad, who seized power in a bloodless coup in March, said that he regretted the loss of lives and property in the violence.

“We cannot afford to replace what we have lost." he. told officials at the secretariat.

, The Government accused politicians of fomenting the student unrest and retaliated by detaining 30 senior leaders of an 18-party alliance for holding a meeting in defiance of martial law. Four hundred students have also been held since Monday. The students were protesting against martial law and changes in the country's education policy.

Life returned to normal outside Dhaka except at the port city of Chittagong, where the police stopped an attempt by students to march in support of colleagues in the capital. A partial strike was also reported in the city..

The State-owned radio and television broadcast a Government warning- that holding .meetings, processions and strikes, and unauthorised possession of firearms would call for heavy penalties. With almost all main public leaders now behind bars, political analysts said that General Ershad might soon begin talks with politicians to examine prospects for a national government to supervise a possible transition to democracy.