Gun law

(Photograph) - Bangladeshi police arrest Dhaka University students suspected of being involved in campus gun battles. One student was killed and several injured in an hour-long fire fight between rival political factions last week.

At least 100 shots were fired and police used 25 tear gas shells to disperse the fighting students. Police said more than 100 militants were detained. One faction, to which the dead student belonged, is backed by the Awami League.

Thursday's gun battle marked the apparent failure of negotiations to resolve a crisis over a previous armed raid on one faction on a hall of residence occupied by the rival grouping. It stemmed from rallies staged by the factions.

The university set up a committee to investigate and report on the incident within two weeks. The university's teachers' association expressed grave concern at the incident and demanded the punishment of those involved. The situation looked likely to escalate, with one faction threatening to paralyse the university unless the crisis was resolved within days.

Police recovered two revolvers, one pistol, a grenade and five bullets near a flower garden at one of the halls. Photo: Reuters