For all latest news, follow the Daily Sun's Google News channel.
-6af0ece118621.jpg)
Photo: Collected
A recent rise in vehicle arson and crude bomb explosions in Dhaka and its outskirts has raised concerns about attempts to create political tension ahead of December, although the incidents have caused no reported casualties.
Intelligence sources believe politically motivated groups may be behind the attacks, while police say they have intensified patrols, CCTV monitoring and operations to identify those involved.
The developments come as December approaches, when ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, now in India, had earlier declared that she would return home.
Following her announcement, members of her party, the activities-banned Awami League, began holding processions and meetings, both online and offline.
Sources in a major intelligence agency said the Awami League and its affiliated organisations were carrying out sabotage to create political instability.
They said the authorities had already been alerted and warned that such incidents could increase if those responsible were not brought to justice.
The sources also said some police officers were reluctant or afraid to act against the perpetrators.
Crime analysts believe the incidents may be part of a wider conspiracy involving domestic and foreign elements.
Addressing a pre-rally marking National Revolution and Solidarity Day on Saturday, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said a defeated force of theLiberation War was conspiring against the country, alleging that a plot was being hatched from a neighbouring country.
On Sunday evening, several crude bombs exploded in the Dhaka University Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) area.
Students and bystanders detained two suspects as they attempted to flee towards the area beside the Metro Rail line and handed them over to Shahbagh police station. Witnesses said the men had set off several crude bombs before trying to escape. Earlier, another crude bombexploded in front of the university’s Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building, while two went off near the T and T Colony office in Jatrabari at around 12:45am.
Four buses were also set on fire at different locations in Dhaka and its outskirts on Sunday, with no casualties reported.
In Vatara, a parked Jolsiri Cantonment School bus was set ablaze on 100 Feet Road in the evening.
Sub-Inspector Debasish Roy of Vatara police station said police received information at around 6:30pm and sent personnel to the spot.
A Savar Paribahan bus caught fire at Savar Thana Bus Stand on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway at around 2:55am. Two fire service units extinguished the blaze by 3:10am. Jahangir Alam, senior station officer of Savar Fire Service, suspected arson.
In Dhamrai, a D-Link Paribahan bus carrying workers of Snotex Garments from Nabinagar caught fire while parked in front of Afaz Uddin College in Sharifbagh at around 3:40am.
Two fire service units brought the blaze under control by 4:20am. Station Officer Al-Amin Khan also suspected that miscreants had set it on fire.
In the capital, a parked Sohag Paribahan bus was completely gutted at Mohakhali Bus Terminal at around 12:57am. Sub-Inspector Abdul Hamid of Tejgaon Industrial Area police station said miscreants had set it ablaze.
A Bihanga Paribahan bus was also torched beneath Pallabi Metro Station in Mirpur-12 at around 10pm on Saturday.
Crude bomb explosions were reported that night at Konapara, in front of Nabi Ullah Nabi Tower in Jatrabari, at Basherpool in Demra and outside the guard room of Setu Bhaban in Banani.
In a further incident on Sunday evening, a crude bomb was hurled into the premises of Pallabi police station, slightly injuring a member of the Special Response Battalion (SRB).
Two unidentified men riding a motorcycle threw the device from an adjacent flyover at around 7:30pm before fleeing. The explosion sent splinters flying, slightly injuring an SRB-4 member standing inside the station gate.
Officer-in-Charge Jalal Uddin said the attack was intended to create panic. No one has been arrested in connection with the incident.
In another incident, a crude bomb was hurled at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters near Malibagh in the capital on Sunday evening.
Officer-in-Charge of Paltan police station Ariful Alam said miscreants threw the device from a flyover near Malibagh intersection towards the CID headquarters at around 7:30pm. One crude bomb exploded inside the premises, but no one was injured.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka Road Transport Owners’ Association has expressed concern over vehicle arson and vandalism in the capital and elsewhere in the country.
In a letter sent to Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir on Sunday, the association urged the authorities to take immediate legal action against those involved in setting fire to six vehicles on November 6 and 7 on Dhaka and inter-district routes.
The letter said miscreants were carrying out sabotage, including vandalising and torching vehicles operating in Dhaka and across the country, creating fear among vehicle owners and workers.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Md Akhtar Hossain said isolated crude bomb explosions had occurred in different parts of the capital since Saturday evening. The devices were thrown from motorcycles, flyovers and other unidentified locations.
He said police were investigating the incidents and analysing CCTV footage to identify those involved. One person was detained at the scene of an incident in Gulshan, while several others had been arrested following footage analysis. Operations were continuing, he added.
Meanwhile, an organisation whose activities have been banned announced a nationwide strike for 10 November.
Dr Omar Faruk, a professor at the Department of Criminology and Police Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, said the recent explosions and arson attacks appeared aimed at creating political instability, weakening the government and spreading public fear.
“Certain groups are attempting to create political instability and make the state and government machinery ineffective,” he said, stressing the need for political reconciliation among the government, political parties and other stakeholders.
Questioning the effectiveness of intelligence agencies, Faruk said he doubted whether accurate information was reaching the government’s highest levels, adding that agencies sometimes portrayed situations as normal despite developments on the ground.
He also alleged that foreign powers, including the United States and India, were pursuing geopolitical and economic interests in Bangladesh and could exploit instability. He said domestic intelligence agencies alone might not be able to address the challenges posed by international networks.
Assistant Inspector General of Police Kamrun Munira told the Daily Sun that patrols and other security measures had been strengthened across the country.