A spate of arson attacks targeting vehicles and crude bomb explosions in Dhaka and other parts of the country in the last few days has created panic and insecurity among people.
Police and intelligence agencies suspect that the ousted Awami League may attempt large-scale acts of sabotage today in connection with its “Dhaka Lockdown” programme.
The International Crimes Tribunal is scheduled to set a date today for the verdict in a case of committing crimes against humanity against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is a prime accused. The attacks are being carried out to ensure the lockdown programme a success, said police.
Officials of the interim government and police said that fugitive leader Hasina and her top leaders are instigating party activists from India and other countries to stage acts of violence in Bangladesh.
Amid heightened tensions surrounding the verdict, police fear that judges’ vehicles and residences could be targeted. Security was therefore reinforced on Wednesday around the swearing-in ceremony of 21 judges at the Judges’ Lounge to prevent any possible attack.
Several intelligence reports have prompted tighter security around judges’ residences in Kakrail, with surveillance extended to their ancestral homes outside Dhaka.
Meanwhile, the Registrar General office of Supreme Court in a letter to the Army Headquarters on Wednesday night asked for deployment of military in the country’s apex court premises, indicating a deepening law and order situation.
Masudul Alam, deputy commissioner of police (Ramna Zone), said checkpoints have been set up and searches conducted near the Judges’ Quarters and the Chief Justice’s residence, where additional security measures are in place.
“Security has also been strengthened around the chief adviser’s residence, while the Supreme Court area has been under a security cordon for several days,” he said.
Following recent incidents of crude bomb explosions and arson attacks, concerns over possible sabotage have grown further. Consequently, police and intelligence monitoring have been intensified at all key installations.
Amid this situation, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed in Dhaka and surrounding districts to maintain law and order. Senior officials from Police Headquarters and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) are supervising operations, under directives issued from the Chief Adviser’s Office.
Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam told TIMES of Bangladesh Wednesday nightb that there was “no scope for sabotage”. He said police were “fully prepared to face any situation” and that “no one involved in criminal acts will be spared”.
DMP Additional Commissioner (Detective Branch) Md Shafiqul Islam also said there was no reason to panic over 13 November. “Those attempting to create fear and unrest will soon be brought to justice and dealt with under the full force of the law,” he assured.
“Members of the army, BGB, RAB and intelligence agencies are on the ground. Despite some isolated incidents, there is no indication of large-scale sabotage,” he added.
Despite their assurances, arson attacks and bomb explosion continued. In two separate incidents, two more buses were set alight on Wednesday in Ashulia and Dholaipar areas of the capital.
According to DMP data, between 1 and 11 November, Dhaka recorded 17 crude bomb explosions and nine incidents of vehicle arson over the past two days.
So far, 17 cases have been filed, and more than 150 leaders and activists of the Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League, along with 50 others, have been arrested.
Fire Service data show that between Monday night and Tuesday morning, at least 12 vehicles were set ablaze across the country. In one incident, a bus helper sleeping inside an Alam Paribahan vehicle died after it was torched in Phulbari, Mymensingh.
Reports indicate that coordinated propaganda and instructions have been circulated from Kolkata, Delhi and other countries centring on 13 November to incite violence. Separate directives from the Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League are being coordinated through multiple WhatsApp and Telegram groups.
On social media, Awami League Joint General Secretaries Jahangir Kabir Nanak and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, along with Organising Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi and others, have urged supporters to remain indoors during the lockdown. Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has also been issuing instructions to party members.
Although the Awami League has called the programme on grounds that the interim government is “illegal”, several of its leaders based in Kolkata have claimed they do not seek bloodshed or loss of life. Their aim, they say, is to mobilise activists, mount street protests and build resistance to generate public support against the government—focusing particularly on the capital as their main target.
But police officials said the leaders and activists of the ousted party are behind all the attacks.
They warn that while recent incidents began with crude bomb blasts and arson attacks on buses, miscreants may now be targeting key installations. They fear attempts to throw petrol bombs or crude explosives at important sites. Given the volatile atmosphere surrounding Hasina’s trial, they fear judges’ vehicles and homes may be at risk.
Security around the Judges’ Lounge and the residences of judges in Kakrail—as well as their village homes—has therefore been strengthened, according to multiple intelligence reports.
Meanwhile, with the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami announcing plans to take to the streets to counter the lockdown, fears of possible clashes are mounting.
