By Daniel Lak BBC correspondent in Kathmandu

The army is on patrol in Nepal which is feeling the effects of a three-day general strike, known here as a "bandh".

If you have bandhs you are going to hinder the country's economy

Thupten Bajracharya, businessman

The word means "closure" in Nepali and that is what happens.

No matter how many troops or policemen are on the streets, almost everything, shops, offices, restaurants and bars, are all shut - such is the power of the Maoist rebel movement.

One shopkeeper shows us why he is shutting his shop in a nearby town this week.

At four in the morning, dozens of armed Maoists attacked a local government building, planted explosives and blew it up.

Economic costs

It was a potent message just a day before the latest bandh to hit Nepal.

Troops have not restored confidence

"This bandh, not only this time but before, they have gone successfully," says commentator and columnist Basanta Thapa.

"That proves the power they wield - terrorising people - you can call it whatever you like. But the truth is that they dictate their terms for now."

There are exceptions to the rule.

At Nepal's only call centre they will still be selling mobile phone connections to Americans while the rest of their country huddles at home.

It is a competitive field and foreign customers do not accept any excuses.

"I want the parties who are declaring bandhs to understand about the economy," Thupten Bajracharya from the Serving Minds Call Centre says.

"If you have bandhs you are going to hinder the country's economy."

Fear

And nothing is worse for that than the relentless violence of the rebellion.

The rebels seem able to strike at will

Here a bomb attack at the national airline headquarters has actually damaged a 1,000-year-old Buddhist shrine and left three women badly injured.

Nothing seems safe here any more.

This is just one of many attacks here in recent months in public places that seem almost wanton in their cruelty and placement.

But they are surely designed to spread terror and fear and emphasise that the Maoists can disrupt and possibly destroy normal life here if they want to.

Another troubled day, then, in a troubled land that yearns for peace but seems to get only war.