Police on alert as crude bomb blasts, arson spread

One person was killed, and at least 10 vehicles were torched as crude bomb blasts and arson escalated and spread to more areas yesterday.

Unidentified people also blocked major roads, padlocked the entrances to government offices and educational institutions, and attacked several establishments, including Grameen Bank offices.

Amid the rising violence, Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir yesterday held a meeting with the superintendents of police of all 64 districts and range DIGs. He directed them to arrest those involved in the attacks, strengthen patrols, particularly in border districts, and intensify intelligence surveillance to prevent illegal entry into the country.

Additional police deployment was ordered in Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Madaripur, and Faridpur where the violence was rife.

Between November 7 and 9, at least 19 buses were torched and crude bomb explosions were reported at 29 spots across the country. Police arrested 29 people and filed 11 cases, according to Police Headquarters (PHQ).

In Dhaka, a car driver was injured when a crude bomb was hurled at his parked vehicle in front of the Faculty of Business Studies at Dhaka University yesterday afternoon. The injured driver was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Another bomb went off near the Faculty of Arts, damaging a car.

Earlier in the day, police recovered four unexploded crude bombs from two spots in Dhanmondi. Two were found near City College around 11:10 am and two others in front of the demolished home of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi-32 around 12:30 pm.

At least 33 people have been arrested in the capital since Monday morning in connection with the explosions, said Md Akhter Hossain, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

“Almost 99 percent of those arrested are linked to the Awami League and its associate organisations, whose political activities are now banned,” he told The Daily Star.

He added that police identified at least two individuals who were hired by the organisation to carry out the blasts in exchange for Tk 1,500 each.

Police on alert as crude bomb blasts, arson spread

The lone fatality was reported in Faridpur, where a parked bus was set on fire near the Goalchamat New Bus Stand area early yesterday.

The victim was identified as bus driver Kalachan Sheikh, 60, from Muksudpur upazila of Gopalganj, police said.

Kalachan, who was sleeping in the bus, died from smoke inhalation, OC Mahmudul Hasan of Faridpur Kotwali Police Station told this newspaper.

Sribas Barai, senior station officer of Faridpur fire service, said firefighters brought the blaze under control within 15 minutes.

In Gopalganj, a group of people set a police vehicle on fire and clashed with law enforcers yesterday, prompting authorities to deploy six platoons of BGB personnel, police said.

According to local sources, around 3,000 to 4,000 people gathered in the Tungipara bus stand area around 9:30 am and blocked the road.

When police tried to disperse them, chases and counter-chases took place.

The Dhaka-Khulna highway was blocked by setting fire to wood and tyres in the Pathalia area of Gopalganj Sadar upazila around 1:00 pm.

A procession and road blockade were reported near the BSCIC bridge in Gopalganj town around the same time.

Police and locals said those who took part in the events were affiliated with the AL and its associate organisations.

Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner Md Arif-Uz-Zaman told The Daily Star that the situation remained under control and six BGB platoons had been deployed to prevent further untoward incidents.

In another development, police recovered two grenade-like objects from in front of Hazrat Shah Makhdum Airport in Rajshahi.

In Mohanganj of Netrokona, at least six houses of AL leaders and activists were attacked, vandalised, and looted on Monday night, hours after a procession reportedly organised by local leaders of banned Chhatra League, according to police and local sources.

The Amtala branch of Grameen Bank at Dugia Bazar in the district’s Sadar upazila was set on fire early yesterday.

A fire also damaged seats in a compartment of Haor Express at Mohanganj Railway Station in Netrokona.

In Savar, a parked bus was torched in Dhamrai around 1:00 am, while another bus was set on fire in Savar’s Namagendha area around 2:00 am, said police.

In Cox’s Bazar, several incidents of arson and vandalism were reported in the district between Monday night and early yesterday.

A moving truck came under a petrol bomb attack at Ramu Bypass Gate. Petrol bombs were also hurled at the gates of Chowfoldandi Union Parishad and a Grameen Bank branch in Cox’s Bazar Sadar upazila, setting them on fire. Crude bombs were also thrown at Kaiarbil in Chakaria and Shapla Chattar in Teknaf, according to police.

Meanwhile, miscreants locked the main entrance of the Chakaria UNO office and the gates of four to five educational institutions on Monday night.

In Khagrachhari, a parked vehicle was torched in front of KSTC Hospital.

Miscreants locked the main gates of a court and three educational institutions in Rangamati.

In Shariatpur, vehicular movement via Padma Bridge was halted for around an hour early yesterday after banned Chhatra League activists blocked the road near the toll plaza at Jazira, said police.

In Chattogram, two buses were set on fire in the port city’s Sagarika and Kalurghat areas on Monday night and early yesterday, reports the daily Prothom Alo.

OC Nurul Absar of Pahartali Police Station said police were trying to identify those involved.

In Kishoreganj’s Bajitpur, a parked college bus was torched late Monday night at Pirijpur bus stand.

A municipality garbage truck was also set on fire in Barguna’s Betagi, according to the Prothom Alo report.

Meanwhile, BNP leaders and activists, along with those from its associate and like-minded parties, yesterday took positions at various points in the capital to prevent subversive activities.

Armed with sticks, they were seen guarding road entrances and alleyways in Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Farmgate, Bijoy Sarani, Tejgaon, and several other areas.

Source: The Daily Star