Dhaka //

Miscreants set fire to three buses at various locations in the capital. Additionally, four crude bombs exploded in the Jatrabari area. On Saturday evening, around 7:15 PM, passenger buses belonging to ‘Abhijat Paribahan’ at Mirpur-1 and ‘Shikhor Paribahan’ at Pallabi-11 were set ablaze almost simultaneously. Later, around 8:00 PM, miscreants torched another bus in Badda. Police have collected CCTV footage from these three separate incident sites and the surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have intensified patrols and search operations following the incidents of crude bomb explosions and bus arsons across the capital. Police and the Special Response Battalion (SRB) have set up over two hundred checkpoints at key locations, including entry points to the city, where suspicious individuals and vehicles are being stopped and searched.

Hafizur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mirpur Police Station, stated that miscreants attempted to set fire to an ‘Abhijat Paribahan’ bus at Mirpur-1. One seat of the bus was burnt, but there were no casualties.

Hasan Basir, OC of Pallabi Police Station, said that miscreants boarded the bus at Pallabi-11 posing as passengers, set it on fire, and then fled. Efforts are underway to identify the perpetrators using CCTV footage.

The Fire Service headquarters control room reported that after receiving news of the fire at 7:13 PM, two fire service units arrived at the scene and extinguished the flames. No casualties were reported.

Mohammad Raju, OC of Jatrabari Police Station, stated that four crude bombs exploded at the Jatrabari intersection in the evening, injuring a rickshaw puller named Billal. It is suspected that the miscreants hurled the bombs from the flyover.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) control room has issued a wireless directive to all police stations, instructing them to remain alert regarding the law and order situation and ordering all officers to remain on duty in the field. A responsible DMP official stated that field-level police personnel have been instructed to remain vigilant to prevent leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations—whose activities are currently banned—from staging flash processions, detonating crude bombs (cocktails), or setting buses on fire. He added that, alongside uniformed officers, a large number of intelligence personnel are operating in the field.

Earlier, on Friday, at least 12 crude bombs exploded at seven locations across Dhaka city, and a bus was set ablaze. Against this backdrop, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) media wing issued a press release on Saturday announcing special security measures across the capital to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of residents. Security measures, including searches at special checkpoints, have been intensified at key points, flyovers, and entry routes within and around the metropolitan area.

As part of the heightened security, strict surveillance is being maintained at major roads, key intersections, and the city’s main entry points. Searches are being conducted on all suspicious vehicles—including motorcycles—to prevent any form of disorder or criminal activity. Special operations are underway across the capital to maintain law and order.

The DMP stated that checkpoints have been established at strategic locations to ensure city safety and maintain law and order. Police also reported that ‘picket duty’ has been reinforced; the number of foot patrols has been significantly increased alongside vehicle and motorcycle patrols across the city. Furthermore, the DMP confirmed the deployment of Detective Branch (DB), Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC), and Armed Police Battalion (APBn) teams to prevent major crimes or acts of sabotage.

DMP Joint Commissioner (Crime) Faruk Hossain stated that anyone attempting to create instability would be brought to justice by any means necessary. A large number of police personnel remain on alert in the field to maintain law and order in the Dhaka metropolitan area.

**Two cases filed over crude bomb explosions and bus arson**

Incidents involving crude bomb explosions and the torching of a bus in Kafrul occurred at at least seven locations in the capital between Friday afternoon and night. Notably, at least four crude bombs were detonated near the main gate and the ‘Chourasta’ (four-way) intersection of Jatrabari Police Station. An auto-rickshaw driver was injured in this incident.

Mohammad Raju, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jatrabari Police Station, told the media that a case has been filed against unidentified individuals under the Explosives Substances Act regarding the crude bomb (cocktail) explosion. The Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police is investigating the case.

DB sources stated that a young man named Md. Raihan has been arrested in connection with the incident. The motorcycle used while hurling the crude bomb was recovered from his possession. Efforts are underway to arrest others involved based on information obtained during his interrogation.

Meanwhile, a case has been filed alleging sabotage regarding the burning of a bus in front of Kafrul Police Station. Mostak Sarkar, Deputy Commissioner of the Mirpur Division of Police, stated that a case has been registered against seven individuals, including the person who ordered the arson. Efforts to arrest those involved are ongoing.

Monirul Islam, OC of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, said that no case was filed regarding the crude bomb explosion in Agargaon as no evidence of such an explosion was found; however, a General Diary (GD) entry was recorded at the station. On the other hand, police have not yet been able to identify those involved in the crude bomb explosion at Mohakhali.

An official from the Gulshan Division of Police stated that CCTV footage and other evidence are being analyzed regarding the crude bomb explosion on the ramp of the Mohakhali flyover. The process of filing a case for this incident is underway. Additionally, crude bomb explosions occurred on Friday in Malibagh, Moghbazar, Babubazar, and Rampura.

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