Streets and markets were bustling in Bangladesh’s biggest cities after the army-backed government temporarily lifted a curfew on Friday, imposed to quell violent student protests demanding an end to Emergency rule.

While there has been no sign of protests since the curfew was imposed on Wednesday evening in six cities including the capital, Dhaka, security forces appeared to be taking no chances. Late Thursday, security forces detained two university teachers who had backed the students’ campaign, United News of Bangladesh said.

Anwar Hossain, a leader of the Dhaka University Teachers Association, and Harunur Rashid, another senior teacher, were picked up from their homes on the university campus, the news agency said. It was not immediately clear if the arrests were related to the teachers' support for the students.

The protesters have demanded the immediate restoration of democracy and an end to Emergency rule — imposed in January when President Iajuddin Ahmed cancelled scheduled elections, outlawed demonstrations, curtailed press freedoms and limited other civil liberties.

Demonstrations began on Monday at the University of Dhaka, spreading to college campuses across the country and then onto city streets, leaving hundreds injured and one person killed, and prompting the government to slap a curfew.