Series of cocktail blasts across Dhaka in one night, school bus torched; three arrested

From Sunday evening into the small hours of the night, a series of cocktail blasts struck different parts of the capital Dhaka. Explosions were reported at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Malibagh, the University of Dhaka campus, Cantonment Railway Station, Bhatara, Uttara East and the Tejgaon industrial area, among other places. On the same evening, miscreants set fire to a school bus in Bhatara. No casualties were reported in any of the incidents.

At around 7:30 pm on Sunday (8 November), a cocktail exploded in the parking area of the CID and the Special Branch (SB) headquarters in Malibagh. Confirming the incident, Paltan Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ariful Alam said miscreants had set off a cocktail on the premises of the CID and SB headquarters.

OC Ariful Alam said the cocktail landed on the bonnet of a car parked inside and exploded there. No casualties were reported in the incident.

When visited, the CID office was found with members of the CID's crime scene unit collecting evidence from the spot. Senior officers of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Motijheel division, along with senior CID and SB officers, were present there.

On the same evening, nine cocktail blasts took place at different spots on the University of Dhaka campus. Police arrested three people in connection with the incidents. The blasts occurred at TSC, the area beside the administrative building, the VC Chattar, and the Mukti o Ganatantra Toron at Nilkhet, among other places on the campus. The blasts spread panic among students and the general public.

Blast sounds were also heard near Jagannath Hall, Shahbagh and the Bangla Academy area, according to reports.

According to police, the three men were arrested at 6:40 pm from under the metro rail station next to TSC. With the help of local people, police arrested them on charges of involvement in the cocktail blasts and took them to Shahbagh Police Station.

The arrested men are Rezaul Karim (42), Sohel Rana (33) and Nazmus Sad (33). Rezaul Karim is from Gurudaspur in Natore, Sohel Rana from Puthia in Rajshahi, and Nazmus Sad from Kotalipara in Gopalganj.

Eyewitnesses said two consecutive cocktail blasts were heard in the TSC area in the evening. Earlier, a cocktail exploded in front of the Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building of the university. The blast in front of the Senate Building took place at 6:35 pm, according to reports. More blasts were then heard beside the administrative building, at the VC Chattar and in front of the Mukti o Ganatantra Toron near Nilkhet.

At around 10:10 pm, miscreants set off a cocktail on the platform of Cantonment Railway Station. No casualties were reported. The matter is being investigated to find out who was behind it. Kamalapur Railway Police Station OC Joynal Abedin confirmed the incident at around 12:20 am.

Earlier, at around 5:40 pm, miscreants set fire to a bus of Jalshiri Cantonment School parked in front of Ananta Tower in the 100 Feet area under Bhatara Police Station. No one was hurt, the OC said.

Bhatara Police Station OC Mazharul Islam confirmed the cocktail blast in front of North South University at around 12:45 am. He said a blast was heard in front of the university after 10:30 pm, and locals later saw smoke rising from the spot. No casualties were reported in the incident.

Cocktail blasts also took place in the Bhatara, Uttara East and Tejgaon industrial area police station areas of the capital. In Uttara East, miscreants set off three cocktails in succession. Blasts were also reported in front of North South University in Bhatara and in front of Southeast University in the Tejgaon industrial area.

In Uttara East, the three cocktails exploded one after another at around 11:45 pm. Uttara East Police Station duty officer Sub-Inspector Mamun confirmed the matter at 1:05 am. He said miscreants set off three cocktails at around 11:45 pm, but no casualties were reported. A video of the incident shows the miscreants exploding three cocktails in succession while riding a motorcycle and shouting the slogan 'Joy Bangla'.

In the Tejgaon industrial area, a cocktail also exploded in front of Southeast University. Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station OC Mahbubur Rahman confirmed the matter at 1:25 am. He said miscreants set off a cocktail in front of Southeast University at around 11:45 pm, but no casualties were reported in the incident.

The blasts and arson at so many places in the capital on a single day have spread fear across the city. Police say they are investigating who was behind these incidents.