For all latest news, follow the Daily Sun's Google News channel.
The parliament witnessed a heated debate on Tuesday over the recent wave of nationwide sabotage, arson and cocktail explosions, with Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed claiming that law and order was “fully under control” and vowing that no conspiracy, domestic or cross-border, would be allowed to destabilise the country. Opposition MPs pressed the government for accountability and an official statement from the home ministry over its alleged failure to ensure public security.
Police meanwhile arrested more than 100 people across several districts, set up 250 checkpoints in Dhaka and deployed additional forces, including three BGB platoons in Gopalganj, after the IGP ordered targeted arrests and stepped-up patrols and surveillance.
JS debate
The House saw a heated exchange on Tuesday as opposition members raised concerns over the recent nationwide sabotage, arson attacks and cocktail explosions, which they linked to the activities-banned Awami League (AL) and its affiliates.
The proceedings were chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal.
Rising on points of order, Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman and Opposition Chief Whip and NCP Convener Nahid Islam accused the government of failing to maintain public security.
They demanded accountability and an official statement from the home ministry.
Nahid Islam said widespread sabotage and disorder were being reported across the country, alleging that elements of the ousted fascist forces were carrying out attacks at different locations.
He cited the torching of buses, an attack on a Dhaka University (DU) student, cocktail explosions on the campus and an attack on a BNP office.
Dr Shafiqur said the opposition was deeply concerned about a series of incidents, including cocktail explosions at the Army Golf Club, an attack on the gate of the Special Branch headquarters and repeated explosions at DU on three consecutive days.
Questioning the effectiveness of law enforcement, he said police, BGB and other forces were all deployed, yet the incidents continued.
He alleged that the security forces had failed to take adequate initiatives to arrest those involved.
Referring to the ban on the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the AL’s student wing, he asked how its activists could allegedly stage processions with weapons despite the prohibition.
Responding, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed rejected claims of a systemic law-and-order collapse.
He said some associates of the ousted fascist forces were trying to destabilise the country from within, with alleged encouragement from across the border, and that the government and law enforcement agencies had thwarted their attempts through patience and professional efficiency.
“The country’s overall law and order situation is fully under control. One or two isolated cocktail explosions under the cover of darkness or symbolic acts of disorder in deserted places cannot be described as a deterioration in the overall security situation,” he said.
The minister warned that no conspiracy, whether originating inside the country or across the border, would be allowed to destabilise Bangladesh.
Addressing allegations of unrest in the garment sector, he said there had been a planned attempt to create instability in the country’s major export and foreign currency-earning industry, with alleged investment from both inside and outside Bangladesh.
He said crime statistics should be assessed through objective comparisons with the corresponding period of previous years. Citing data published on the police website, he claimed murders had declined by around 300 compared with the same period last year. He added that the government appreciated the opposition’s active role and expected its cooperation in maintaining peace and stability.
After the debate, the House took up legislative business. Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku placed “The Special Solar Power Installation Bill, 2026” to turn the recently issued ordinance into law. Jamaat MP Barrister Nazibur Rahman Momen said it was unnecessary to issue the ordinance just days before the parliamentary session, alleging that it had been issued with ill motive. Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman spoke in favour. The House, by voice vote, sent the bill to the relevant parliamentary committee for scrutiny, asking it to report within three working days.
On the issue of ex-IGP Benazir Ahmed, Jamaat MP Meer Ahmad Bin Quasem sought clarification on the government’s efforts to ensure he was held accountable for the allegations against him, and raised the matter of his release from a Dubai jail. The home minister said the extradition process was relatively straightforward and that the government had made sincere efforts to bring him back.
Arrests and checkpoints
Police arrested more than 100 people in several districts over cocktail explosions, arson attacks and road blockades. In Cumilla, police detained 107 members of the banned AL and its associate organisations during a night-long drive across 18 police stations. In Manikganj, 10 suspects were detained after overnight raids, and in Sirajganj three Chhatra League leaders were arrested over setting tyres on fire on a railway track near the Jamuna Bridge on Monday night.
In Dhaka, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) set up 250 checkpoints and intensified searches of motorcycles, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and private cars. DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Akhtar said searches were under way in areas including Tejgaon, Mohakhali, Mirpur, Gabtoli, Jatrabari, Paltan, Shahbagh, Badda and Uttara, and that all police stations had been told to arrest those involved in spreading panic. Police detained four people in Moghbazar while they were allegedly preparing to attack a checkpoint with cocktails, and arrested two leaders of the banned Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League in Lalbagh over alleged financing of subversive activities.
Incidents across the country
Two cocktail explosions near the Business Faculty and Arts Building of DU around 2:20pm injured a car driver. A man carrying a machete was earlier detained near the Teachers-Students Centre. Police recovered four unexploded cocktails in Dhanmondi, two of them in front of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house at Dhanmondi 32, along with a note bearing the words “Joy Bangla” and “Projonmo-71”. A 17-year-old, Ador Ali, was injured in a cocktail blast in Malibagh around 2:00am, and three cocktails were recovered from a bag beside a school gate in Savar.
Buses were set on fire in Savar, Dhamrai, Gazipur, Chattogram and Naogaon, and a minibus was gutted at Manikganj bus stand. In Faridpur, bus driver Kala Chan, 60, escaped a burning parked bus but fell ill after inhaling smoke and was declared dead at hospital. A coach of the Haor Express caught fire at Mohanganj station in Netrokona, though train services were not disrupted. In Rajshahi, two grenade-like objects were found in front of Shah Makhdum Airport shortly after Minister Tuku arrived, and he was taken out through the rear gate. Miscreants also set fire to a joint BNP office in Tanore. Police recovered a bomb-like object from a college in Magura and two more near Gangni in Meherpur.
Questions over police response
In Gopalganj’s Tungipara, protesters gathered at Patgati bus stand from morning, burning tyres and blocking roads. Local sources alleged police initially remained inactive despite protesters carrying locally made weapons.
Resident Roman Mollah said, “Police were initially just standing and watching. They were not doing much. They eventually took action, but it was not sufficient.” Protesters later burned a police pickup van and damaged a BNP office.
Police fired tear gas only after the situation escalated, triggering clashes that injured several people, including police personnel. Similar scenes were reported at Gopalganj launch terminal and in Shariatpur’s Naodoba.
Police spokesperson Kamarum Munira, an assistant inspector general, said the scenes on social media were “essentially part of our field-level operational tactics”.
She said police were investigating the sabotage incidents of the past month and strengthening intelligence surveillance and technology use. “Any attempt to carry out sabotage, violence or disrupt public order will be dealt with strictly, while ensuring lawful and professional conduct,” she said.
IGP’s directives, BGB deployment
At a virtual meeting with police superintendents of all 64 districts, IGP Ali Hossain Fakir directed officials to arrest those involved, strengthen patrols and increase intelligence surveillance.
He warned against mass arrests like those under the previous AL government and asked that innocent people not be harassed. Superintendents told Daily Sun he stressed “quality arrests”. Extra police were ordered to Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Madaripur and Faridpur, and three BGB platoons were deployed in Gopalganj.
State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare Nurul Haque Nur announced a Tk20,000 reward from his party for anyone who helps catch those involved in bus arson and crude bomb attacks.
Jamaat blames government
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said the “astonishing inaction” of law enforcement and intelligence agencies allowed attacks in at least 50 locations.
“The fallen fascist forces would not have been able to carry out acts of sabotage across the country without the astonishing inaction and a kind of tacit support of the law enforcement and intelligence services,” he said in a statement.
He said the government’s failure to implement the referendum verdict under the July National Charter had created openings for violence, and warned Jamaat might announce a fresh programme. He urged compensation and medical care for victims.
AL ban covers media publicity
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury said the ban on the AL also covers its publicity and promotion across print, online and social media.
A notification of 12 May 2025 prohibited all AL activities, including publications and media campaigns, he said, urging journalists to take note. He spoke after meeting a Broadcast Journalists Centre delegation, who sought a share of cable subscription revenue for channels, a media commission and revised policies.
He said the ministry would review the proposals once received in writing, and that, on the prime minister’s instructions, there would be no attempt to control or interfere with media outlets. He added that Sheikh Hasina would be brought back to face trial.