The law and order situation in the country seems to have deteriorated following repeated incidents of violence in and around the capital city as the International Crimes Tribunal is expected to announce the verdict date on November 13 in a case concerning ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ committed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during July Uprising.
According sources, the banned Awami League is planning a "Dhaka lockdown" programme on that day.
At least three buses were set on fire and several crude bombs were exploded at different places in the capital since Sunday night to Monday evening causing severe panic among the people.
Besides, unidentified miscreants shot a man dead near the court in Dhaka.
In the circumstances, law enforcement agencies claimed to have taken a full-scale operation to prevent any violent street protests while the Press Secretary of the Chief Adviser warned stern action against any attempt of creating anarchy.
They launched ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. Besides, police hold a citywide security drill ahead.
Three buses set on fire
At least three buses were set on fire in the capital’s Dhanmondi, Merul Badda and Shahjadpur.
Of them a bus belonging to Shanto-Mariam University caught fire outside LabAid Hospital in Dhanmondi area on Monday evening, sparking panic among locals, pedestrians, and nearby hospital visitors.
According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, the incident occurred at around 7:30 pm. No casualties were reported in the Dhanmondi fire as of the time of filing this report.
The cause of the fire could not be determined immediately, and officials have yet to confirm whether there were any passengers on board or if the bus had been parked at the time. Witnesses reported that a group of seven to eight young men were walking past the bus moments before it suddenly caught fire. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of sabotage or an accident, and an investigation is expected.
Earlier Miscreants set fire to two passenger buses in the capital’s Shahjadpur and Merul Badda areas early Monday.
According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters' control room, the first incident occurred around 5:40 am at the Bashhtala bus stand in Shahjadpur, where a Tongi-bound Victor Paribahan bus was torched. Two firefighting units rushed to the scene and brought the blaze under control. No casualties were reported.
Shortly after, around 6:15 am, another Tongi-bound passenger bus of Akash Paribahan was set ablaze in front of BRAC University at Merul Badda. Two more fire service units responded and extinguished the flames.
Crude bombs explosions reported at four places
Explosions of crude bombs were reported exploded in four separate locations in Dhaka, including the premises of a business owned by Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, on Monday morning.
Two bombs targeted Farida's business premises on Sir Syed Road at around 7:10am.
One bomb landed inside the premises while the other exploded on the street, confirmed Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mohammadpur Police Station.
Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Tejgaon Division, Ibne Mizan, said, "Two crude bombs were detonated — one on the road in front of Prabartana and another inside the boundary. No one was injured."
He added that police have visited the scene and are analysing CCTV footage.
Meanwhile, in Dhanmondi, motorcycle riders detonated two crude bombs near Ibn Sina Hospital and another two in front of Midas Center at Dhanmondi-27 at around 7:30am, Shah Mostafa Tariquzzaman, DMP assistant commissioner for Dhanmondi zone, confirmed.
"Two people were on a motorcycle and hurled the crude bombs. When police tried to nab them, they fled the scene like thieves," said Jishanul Haque, additional deputy commissioner of Dhanmondi zone.
Assistant Commissioner Shah Mostafa Tariquzzaman said no injuries were reported and that CCTV footage and other evidence have been collected.
Earlier, in Mirpur, a bomb exploded on the road in front of the Grameen Bank headquarters around 3:45am.
Toyda's blasts follow several similar incidents in the last few days.
In the early hours of Saturday, two crude bombs exploded inside the compound of St Joseph Higher Secondary School in the capital's Mohammadpur area.
The previous night, a crude bomb exploded at St Mary's Cathedral in Dhaka's Kakrail, while another was recovered unexploded from inside the church.
Police said they arrested some of the suspects in these connections and investigation was on.
Broad daylight gun attack kills one in Dhaka
A man was shot dead in broad daylight in front of Dhaka National Medical College Hospital in Sutrapur in the capital on Monday morning.
The deceased was identified as Tarik Saif Mamun, 50.
Mohibullah, a ward master at the hospital, said they came out after hearing gunfire and found the man lying on the road with bullet wounds.
He was immediately rescued and taken to the National Hospital before being transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The victim’s cousin, Hafiz, said, “My brother Mamun was an ordinary person. I have no idea why he was killed. He had no political affiliations, and I don’t know who committed this murder or why.”
CCTV footage from the area shows two armed men firing shots in front of the hospital before fleeing the scene.
Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police outpost, said the body has been sent to the morgue for autopsy and the relevant police station has been informed.
Law enforcers launch all-out effort to thwart AL's 'Dhaka lockdown'
Law enforcement agencies have launched a full-scale operation to prevent any violent street protests on 13 November, amid reports of a "Dhaka lockdown" planned by the banned Awami League.
Around 60,000 personnel from the police, RAB, and other units are expected to be deployed to avert any potential threat, police sources said.
On Saturday, the DMP held a high-level, closed-door meeting, instructing field officers that failure to control processions or gatherings would result in strict accountability.
Police intelligence warns that religious institutions, schools, and other key establishments could be targeted, with the risk of crude bombings and arson. In the past two days, at least six crude bombs exploded at three locations in the capital, including Kakrail's St Mary Church and St Joseph School.
Authorities are tracking potential bomb makers and monitoring social media posts calling on Awami League sympathisers to gather.
On that day, the International Crimes Tribunal is expected to announce the verdict date in a case concerning crimes against humanity during last year's uprising. Three individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ex-home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, are facing trial.
"We already have several arrestees in custody and are surveilling internal groups on Messenger, Signal, and WhatsApp. These conversations have helped us detain individuals attempting to destabilise law and order," an additional deputy commissioner said.
"Some AL leaders called for roadblocks while others tipped us off to arrest them. Their internal rifts are aiding our efforts," he added.
Security deployments are planned at strategic points, including Dhaka's entry points and key installations. Plain-clothes intelligence collection on public transport and multi-phase patrolling on foot, motorcycle, and vehicles are underway, he said.
DMP Additional Commissioner SN Nazrul Islam said, "At present, the Awami League cannot carry out any major activities. However, we are receiving substantial information from Facebook and YouTube and are acting on it with full preparation. There is no need for panic. Even without specific threats, several leaders and activists are under surveillance."
The Home Ministry's Core Committee on Law and Order discussed the situation on Tuesday, instructing strict action against troublemakers. Special search operations are set to begin today at Dhaka's entry points, residential hotels, messes, and educational institutions. Additional forces have already been deployed at key locations.
On Saturday, DMP conducted a large-scale security drill across 142 locations, deploying around 7,000 personnel and covering vital installations, including the chief adviser's residence, the Secretariat, High Court, Bangabhaban, and the Chief Adviser's Office in Tejgaon.
Wing Commander MZM Intekhab Chowdhury of RAB said, "Our field and cyber monitoring teams remain active. While no specific threats have been identified, preparations for deployment, increased patrolling, and additional checkposts will be visible from 10 November. Coordination with DMP headquarters, CID, and other units is ongoing."
Police Additional IGP Khondkar Rafiqul added that disinformation on social media is being taken seriously. "Past attempts by defeated political forces to create confusion indicate they may try again. Our operations will be reinforced and more robust from 10 November."
Don’t test patience of July revolutionaries: Press Secretary to AL supporters
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Monday said any attempt by "banned political or terrorist outfits" to hold protests will be met with the full force of the law.
"Don’t test the patience of the July revolutionaries. And remember: it is not October 28, 2006. It is July — forever," he said, apparently issuing a warning to the supporters of Bangladesh Awami League.
In a Facebook post from his verified account, Alam said the AL, its enablers and their "mass-murderer leader" seem to think this is October 28, 2006 all over again.
He said they imagine sending a mob of tens of thousands of thugs into central Dhaka to seize the streets after slaughtering a dozen people in broad daylight. "Sorry — this is a New Bangladesh," Alam said.
The Press Secretary on Wednesday said the interim government would apply ‘full force of law’ if anyone from Bangladesh Awami League tries to engage in any activities defying the ban imposed on those after being encouraged by what former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is saying or directing from India.
“Those who will defy the ban and try to hold meetings or processions will face the law. Our full force of laws will be applied and will be applied very strongly. There will be no deviation from that position. The government will not spare an inch of space,” he said, referring to the ban imposed on the AL activities.
The Press Secretary made the remarks when a journalist drew his attention regarding the remarks made by Hasina staying in India and her party’s ‘Dhaka Lockdown’ programme for November 13.
