DHAKA: Bangladesh closed its leading engineering university in the capital Dhaka for an indefinite period on Saturday after students who wanted a break to watch World Cup matches went on a protest rampage in the campus.

"Male students have already left their dormitories while the females will vacate their residential halls by Sunday morning," a teacher of the University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) told Reuters.

At least four students were injured as stones were thrown and windows smashed at the BUET offices in Saturday`s violence.

The students wanted the scheduled summer vacation advanced by seven days to next week, leaving them free to watch football`s biggest tournament in South Africa on television.

BUET is a state-managed institution of some 5,000 students.

Bangladesh are rated 157th in the FIFA world rankings but football is very popular in the south Asian country where flags of leading countries have been hoisted during the World Cup.

BDST: 1154hrs, June 20, 2010
SA