Bus set on fire in Manikganj as cocktails explode at several spots in one night; cocktails recovered at Dhanmondi 32 too
A minibus parked in Manikganj was set on fire, cocktails exploded at various places in repeated incidents, and tyres were set alight. Police have arrested 10 people on suspicion of involvement in these incidents.
The incidents took place in different areas of the district from Monday evening (9 November) into the night.
Miscreants set fire to a minibus parked in front of the police box at the Manikganj bus stand. The minibus was burnt in the fire. On receiving the news, police and Fire Service personnel rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control.
The incident happened at around 12:30am on Monday night in the bus stand area on the Dhaka-Aricha highway. No casualties have been reported.
Cocktail explosions took place in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office, at the Manikganj bus stand, in front of the BNP office, near the Superintendent of Police's residence, at the Paturia police outpost, at the Ghior bus stand, at Golra on the Dhaka-Aricha highway, at the Dhaleshwari bridge, at the Jagir vegetable market and at the Nayadingi bus stand.
At least nine cocktail explosions took place in six areas — the Government High School ground, the bus stand, the Golra stand and Nayadingi in Saturia — from Monday evening into the night.
Tyres were also set on fire at various places in Saturia, Shibaloy and Singair.
According to police sources, of those arrested, Manikganj Sadar police arrested six, the district detective police two, and Singair and Daulatpur police one each. The names and identities of those arrested were not immediately known.
Manikganj Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sarwar Alam confirmed the incidents. He said 10 people were arrested on charges of creating an unstable situation through sabotage, including cocktail explosions and arson on a bus, at various places in the district. The arrested are being interrogated, and the process of taking legal action is under way.
Meanwhile, police recovered two cocktails and a note in the Dhanmondi 32 area of the capital. They were recovered on Tuesday morning (10 November).
The recovered note read, "Bangladesh Muktir Dak 71. Joy Bangla".
Police are on alert in the area over the incident. Members of the law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the spot.
Security had already been tightened in the Dhanmondi 32 area over the declared programme and strike of the banned Chhatra League. However, no casualties have been reported in the cocktail recovery incident so far.
