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Published : 11 Nov 2025, 01:36 AM
Dhaka has been plunged into fear as residents woke to reports of buses set ablaze in Shahjadpur and Merul Badda.
By 9pm on Monday, police confirmed at least seven bomb explosions and three separate bus fires across the city, sending waves of panic through the capital.
Earlier in the day, tension grew as two assailants gunned down a man in broad daylight near the Old Dhaka court area.
CCTV footage showed the gunmen opening fire in a manner reminiscent of a crime thriller. The video quickly circulated on the internet, intensifying public alarm.
The fresh wave of violence has sparked fears among citizens and raised questions about its possible link to the banned Awami League’s protest programme, announced for Nov 13.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), however, urged the public not to panic.
“Police have taken necessary measures, there is no reason for the residents to be anxious,” said DMP spokesperson Md Talebur Rahman.
Police have yet to confirm whether the arson and explosions were acts of sabotage or identify those responsible.
The Chief Adviser’s Office later said a member of the Awami League’s student wing, the Bangladesh Chhatra League, had been arrested in connection with several explosions near Kakrail church, St Joseph School, and other sites.
Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief advisor, issued a stern warning that the authorities would act firmly against any attempt to carry out the banned party’s programme in the capital.
In a Facebook post, he wrote: “This is not the 28th of October, 2006, this is a new Bangladesh.”
The Awami League, banned from political activity, has called for demonstrations from Nov 10–13 as the International Crimes Tribunal nears a verdict against Sheikh Hasina over alleged crimes against humanity during the July Uprising.
The incidents of crude bombings and bus fires across the city have evoked memories of a previous era of political violence under the Awami League government.
Citizens are recalling the pre-election arson attacks that shook the capital a decade ago, particularly those surrounding the 2013 elections.
Many now wonder if Dhaka is heading toward a repeat of those “days of fire terror”.
BUSES SET ABLAZE
The day began around 5:40am when a Victor Paribahan bus parked on a road in Shahjadpur was torched.
Thirty minutes later, another fire was reported on an Akash Paribahan bus in nearby Merul Badda.
At night, another bus belonging to Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology was set ablaze in front of Labaid Hospital in Dhanmondi.
About two hours before the first arson, two men hurled a hand bomb in front of the Grameen Bank headquarters in Mirpur around 3:45am before fleeing.
At 7:10am, another explosion occurred outside and inside “Prashartana”, a food business in Mohammadpur run by Farida Akhter, an advisor to the Minisitry of Fisheries and Livestock.
Police also reported blasts on Dhanmondi Road 27 near Rapa Plaza and in front of Ibn Sina Hospital on Road 9/A around 7am.
Later in the evening, explosions were reported outside the Betar Bhaban in Agargaon, followed by blasts at Mirpur 10 roundabout and on top of the Khilgaon flyover.
No injuries were reported in any of the incidents. “We are working to identify those responsible,” said DMP spokesperson Talebur.
34 ARRESTED
Police said they arrested 34 leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliates during overnight raids in different parts of the city.
The Chief Adviser’s Office confirmed the arrest of a Chhatra League activist in connection with the blasts.
Asked whether the attacks were linked to the Nov 13 programme, Talebur said: “We have arrested several individuals and are verifying if they are connected to any of the announced programmes on social media.”
He added, “Police are fully prepared. There are adequate security measures in place ahead of the 13th November.”
Press Secretary Shafiqul reiterated that the government would not tolerate activities by “any banned or criminal organisation”.
“BAL and their allies, the genocidal leaders, imagine they can again seize central Dhaka after killing dozens in broad daylight as they did on the 28th of October, 2006,” he said.
“But this is a new Bangladesh. Any attempt by banned political or criminal groups to gather will face the full force of the law.”
RESIDENTS ANXIOUS
After the morning blasts, increased police patrols and checkpoints were seen in several parts of Dhaka. Despite official assurances, many residents said they were growing fearful.
Masud Parvez, an employee of a pharmaceutical company, said: “My wife called and told me to come home early after hearing about the chaos. She knows I move around a lot for work. Police stopped me at Mohammadpur for checking. It feels like something big is happening.”
When asked what his wife meant by “chaos”, he said: “She saw the news on TV -- fires, shootings, bombs near Grameen Bank and elsewhere. How can you not be scared?”
Jewel Sardar, a driver for a rental car service, said he did not take his car out in the morning.
“The owner told me if the car burns, it’s on me. Who will take that risk?” he said.
At 10pm, Gabtoli driver Ashraf Ali said: “I heard they burned a bus in Dhanmondi tonight. I’m just waiting on Mazar Road -- my owner told me to be careful. But there aren’t many passengers out either.”
PARENTS WORRY OVER SCHOOL SAFETY
Many parents expressed concern about sending children to school after a hand bomb blast outside St Joseph School and College in Mohammadpur on Sunday.
The area also houses several schools -- including SFX Greenherald International School, St Paul’s School, and YWCA Girls’ School -- within a short distance.
Tiny Tots and Summerfield International School advised parents to download the Zoom app for online classes from Nov 11–13 in case of “unforeseen closures”.
Video footage from Mohammadpur’s Syed Road showed a crude bomb exploding near the “Prashantona” shop as a parent was walking his daughter to school, with both seen running for cover through rising smoke.
Golam Sarwar, father of a first-grade student at St Paul’s School, said: “I’m very worried. If something happens in front of the children, that fear won’t go away easily. The school is open, but I won’t send my child on the 13th of November.”
Private Development organisation BRAC issued an internal circular warning staff to remain vigilant amid reports of political violence and online disinformation.
The circular, signed by BRAC Director (Operations) retired brigadier general Rakib Uddin Ahmed, instructed employees to avoid protest sites, strengthen office security and fire safety, refrain from political discussions or posts on social media, and keep emergency contact numbers saved.
The instructions followed Monday’s sequence of crude bomb blasts, bus arsons, and the daylight shooting incident that have deepened public fear in Dhaka.
