Fake bomb, roses and threatening letter found behind DU's Muhsin Hall

A tiffin carrier containing a bomb-like object, roses and a threatening letter has been found behind Haji Muhammad Muhsin Hall at the University of Dhaka. The letter warns the university administration and the police, and gives an ultimatum demanding a public apology from those involved in harming students' academic lives on political considerations.

Shahbagh police recovered the items from a garbage pile behind the hall at around 11pm on Monday (9 November).

Witnesses said they spotted a bomb-like object inside a tiffin carrier lying in the garbage pile and informed the police. Police later arrived at the scene, opened it and recovered a fake bomb, roses and a note.

Confirming the incident, the hall's provost, Professor Shah Shamim Ahmed, said the police were informed after a suspicious object was seen in a tiffin carrier in the garbage pile behind the hall. Police then came and recovered the fake bomb, roses and note from there.

The recovered note carries various statements under the heading 'November Rain'. It begins with greetings for November and says that, except for the 'miscreants' of 2024 and opponents of the great Liberation War, everyone else's position is now the same. It also says that regardless of party and opinion, everyone's expectation is the same in the fight to save the country.

The letter demands a public apology from those involved in ruining the academic lives of hundreds of students on political considerations.

Addressing the university and police administration, the letter says, 'Today I gave a false sample; in the coming days we will talk face to face.' In other words, describing today's incident as a sample, it warns of a direct confrontation in the future.

The letter also says, 'Do not endanger yourself by following the illegal orders of an illegal government. It is your eleventh hour!' At the end, alongside the words 'As you open and read this letter, I am still beside you, informing you of everything', it says 'It is coming home', speaking of answering exploitation.

Shahbagh police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Moniruzzaman said a police team had gone to the scene and found a note there. The letter conveys November greetings and some remarks, he said.

Asked about the source of the information in the letter and the next steps, the OC said it was not possible to disclose how the information was obtained, in the interest of confidentiality. He said a note would be kept in a general diary (GD) over the incident.