Hand-bomb explosions, flash processions and the torching of buses have renewed security concerns in Dhaka ahead of a lockdown programme called by the banned Jubo League.
The incidents have also put the police under fresh scrutiny, raising questions over intelligence failures and the force’s ability to prevent sudden outbreaks of violence.
Dhaka saw the torching of two buses in Mirpur, one in Badda on Saturday, alongside the explosion of crude bombs in Jatrabari, following overnight sporadic crude bomb blasts, a bus arson attack, and torchlight processions across various parts of the capital on Friday.
Those concerns deepened after an audio recording emerged in which a recently withdrawn officer-in-charge of Dhaka Cantonment Police Station spoke openly about what he described as serious weaknesses within the force.
Senior police officials say police and intelligence agencies are working to identify those behind the explosions.
Yet flash processions were held around Baitul Mukarram and Gulistan on Saturday morning, while no one had been identified or detained 24 hours after several hand-bomb explosions the previous night.
The police stations concerned have offered no clear explanation, raising questions over both intelligence gathering and operational preparedness.
Former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Md Sarwar told TIMES that the issue went beyond individual incidents.
“After 5 August 2024, there was a need to restructure the police and strengthen their capabilities. How much of that work has been done over the past two years is now also an important question,” he said.
Sarwar said manpower management, intelligence gathering and analysis, field preparedness and the police’s overall capacity to handle law and order situations needed to be reviewed.
He also said little had been done to restore morale within the force.
“As a result, the police are unable to perform their routine duties,” he said.
Some of those concerns surfaced in an audio recording attributed to withdrawn Dhaka Cantonment Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Rakibul Hasan.
In the recording, the officer is heard describing police on the streets as “terribly weak” and claiming the force would be unable to respond effectively if deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina returned to Bangladesh.
“We know that Sheikh Hasina is coming in December. Nothing will actually happen, nothing will happen,” he is heard saying.
“You can understand how weak the police on the streets are. Terribly weak. She should come. December is already late. She should have come this month. If she comes, this police will not be able to do anything.”
The recording also contains allegations of political influence and irregularities in police postings.
“All the senior officers are doing BNP politics. We are not doing BNP politics,” the officer is heard saying. “We did not join the department to do this.”
He also alleged that a driver named Monir, who worked for a senior police officer, had influence over the posting of officers-in-charge.
“Those getting postings are paying him money and getting posted the next morning,” he is heard saying.
The recording contains another allegation that a senior official received Tk1 crore in connection with a matter in Dhaka’s Bhatara.
“Can anyone work like this? They put incompetent people in positions and keep the capable people pushed into corners,” the officer is heard saying.
The allegations contained in the recording have not been independently established. Rakibul was later taken into Detective Branch custody.
Former DMP Commissioner Sarwar said effective policing in Dhaka depended heavily on advance intelligence.
“DMP works on the basis of intelligence information. It takes action based on information received from different agencies, including the Special Branch, city SB and NSI,” he told TIMES.
“If there was advance intelligence about bombs, fires and processions in Dhaka, then there was a failure on the part of police.”
He said advance information would normally allow police to deploy additional forces and take preventive measures.
Sarwar also said greater police vigilance could have been considered after a large Awami League procession was held in Gulshan.
DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner for Media Niaz Mehedi said police had stepped up security.
“Check posts have been set up at 200 locations and searches are being carried out to prevent any kind of untoward incident,” he said.
Security analyst retired Major General ANM Muniruzzaman said intelligence surveillance needed to be strengthened.
“They have been trying to carry out such activities since the procession in Gulshan,” he told TIMES.
“To prevent such incidents from happening in the future, surveillance needs to be increased and strengthened at the places where police are already deployed.”
A number of senior police officers have been removed or transferred following recent flash processions.
Five days after an Awami League procession in Gulshan on 11 September, Gulshan Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Daud Hossain and Gulshan Division Deputy Commissioner M Tanvir Ahmed were removed from their posts.
A day later, Special Branch chief Sardar Nurul Amin was transferred to Police Headquarters, while Police Headquarters DIG Md Kamrul Ahsan was appointed the new SB chief.
The City SB chief was also moved from his post.
On 25 August, 27 police officers and personnel, including the head of a police outpost, were transferred over allegations that they had failed to prevent a flash procession in Mymensingh.
The security concerns come as the banned Jubo League has called for a Dhaka lockdown on Sunday, with the Awami League expressing solidarity with the programme.
The call followed the International Crimes Tribunal-2 verdict on 15 September sentencing seven Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League leaders to death over crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 uprising.
Those sentenced were Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former State Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, Jubo League General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan.
Police and intelligence officials believe the deposed party does not have the organisational strength to make the lockdown successful, but say activities aimed at creating public fear remain a concern.
Flash processions have also been reported outside Dhaka.
According to Police Headquarters data, such processions were reported in different districts and metropolitan areas from March to August and continued into September.
Activity was highest in June, when processions were reported in Sylhet, Rajbari, Gazipur, Chattogram, Jhenaidah, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Netrakona, Rajshahi, Savar and Ashulia.
In mid-June, Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League activists staged a flash procession in Sylhet city’s Nawab Road area despite the presence of police. Four people were later detained.
On 12 June, footage of another flash procession by Awami League and affiliated organisation activists on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Sreepur, Gazipur, circulated on social media.
At least three such processions were held in Jashore within a week that month.
Separate processions were also held in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur at Asad Gate on 17 May and College Gate on 21 June.
Police arrested 122 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations across Dhaka Metropolitan areas between 1 and 13 September.
Of them, 33 were arrested in the Gulshan Police Station area and 13 in Pallabi.
Police said 179 people had been arrested by Saturday following the widely discussed Awami League procession in Gulshan.
