Dhaka Student army swaps placards for brooms as the clean-up begins

Students have been out in force on the streets of Dhaka - no longer protesting, but instead working to put a city back together after the dramatic events of the past few days.

- Kaamil Ahmed

They have been cleaning up roads, directing traffic and helping to maintain order.

"We're living in extraordinary times. Protests can lead to unintended consequences, but they're driven by a cause. Now it's our responsibility to help restore normalcy. We're just doing our part," said one volunteer at a busy intersection in the Mirpur neighbourhood as they cleared glass and debris from a police box that had been set alight.

Nearby, other students were directing Dhaka's notorious traffic, as police officers had deserted traffic posts or been deployed elsewhere.

Holding up handmade signs urging: "Stop! Follow the Traffic Rules", they encouraged pedestrians to keep to pavements and footbridges. "Our protests might have ended, but our duty to the nation persists," explained Faiza, 19.