Curfew re-imposed in Bangladesh's southeastern Rangamati district

Bangladeshi authorities have imposed a nighttime curfew for the second straight night on the country's southeastern Rangamati district, some 293 km away of capital Dhaka.

"The curfew will be reinforced from 5:00 p.m. (local time) Monday. It will remain in place till 7:00 a.m. (local time) Tuesday," Shamsul Arefin, the district's administration chief, told reporters Monday afternoon.

He said the situation remained tense but "under control" on Monday in Rangamati town and elsewhere in the district as there were no reports of fresh violence.

An eerie calm prevailed in the Rangamati town as locals preferred to stay at home. Personnel of the Bangladesh Army were patrolling the town along with police and paramilitary forces.

"Situation remained under control since Sunday evening. There now exists a peaceful atmosphere," the district's police chief Abul Kalam Azad told Xinhua.

The administration chief at about 7:30 p.m. local time Sunday night declared a curfew, which remained in place till Monday 8 a.m. local time.

Curfew was imposed after violence spread to different parts of the hilly district in sequel to clashes between tribal groups and Bengali settlers.

At least 10 people were injured in incidents of violence reported in parts of the district on Saturday.

The clashes erupted as some tribal groups started demonstration, protesting against the inauguration of a public medical college in the district. Endi