Bus torched, crude bombs exploded in Dhaka ahead of shutdown

Suspected Jamaat-e-Islami supporters have torched a bus and exploded several crude bombs in capital Dhaka to strike fear ahead of the three-day shutdown beginning Thursday.

The party will enforce general strike again on Sunday and Monday in protest against the death sentence for its chief Motiur Rahman Nizami.

Police and fire service officials said a bus of Anabil Paribahan was set on fire near Kajla Petrol Pump in Jatrabarhi around 8:15pm on Wednesday.

Fire service official Farhaduzzaman told bdnews24.com that on information they rushed to the spot and doused the blaze.

Police could not confirm who were responsible for the arson.

Earlier, miscreants exploded two crude bombs in Dhanmondi in the afternoon, creating panic among the passersby.

Dhanmondi Police Station OC Abu Bakar told bdnews24.com: “Two crude bombs exploded near Star Kabab restaurant. But none was injured.”

Police suspect the bombs were hurled from a high-rise building but could not identify anyone responsible for the explosion.

Another crude bomb exploded near the Rampura kitchen market.

Law enforcers arrested seven people from Gulshan, Mugda and Motijheel when Jamaat activists were trying to take out marches against the International Crimes Tribunal verdict.

ICT-1 on Wednesday sentenced Nizami, who led Pakistan Army’s vigilante militia outfit Al-Badr, for his war crimes.

Law enforcers said security had been beefed up in different areas of the capital since Tuesday surrounding the verdict.

Border Guard Bangladesh PRO Mohsin Reza told bdnews24.com their personnel had been deployed in Dhaka following the shutdown call.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman said law-enforcing agencies had necessary preparations to ensure security of the people during the strike.