Dhaka rocked by crude bomb blasts, bus arsons at 10+ locations in 2 days
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Dhaka was shaken on Monday, 10 November by a fresh wave of crude bomb explosions and bus arson attacks, with targets spanning educational institutions, court premises, and busy transport hubs across the Bangladeshi capital, according to local media reports. The violence marks a sharp deterioration in Bangladesh's law-and-order situation, with more than 50 crude bomb explosions and at least eight bus arsons recorded across the city over the past few days.
Key Incidents on Monday
In one of the more striking attacks on Monday evening, unidentified assailants set a bus ablaze beneath the Farmgate metro rail station, prompting a heightened security response in the area. Tejgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Moniruzzaman confirmed that officers rushed to the scene and were working to identify and apprehend those responsible, according to the Dhaka Tribune.
Crude bombs exploded near Dhaka University's Teacher-Student Centre and outside the District Judge Court, where suspects were subsequently detained. Government Bangla College in Mirpur was also targeted — a crude bomb detonated at its main gate as several adjoining shops were set on fire. A bus was torched in the Pallabi area, and a van carrying gas cylinders was set ablaze on Postogola Bridge in South Keraniganj. Additional blasts were reported in Shyampur and near Shanto-Mariam University, World University, and Southeast University. Earlier on Monday morning, crude bomb explosions were also reported near Titumir College and in the Rampura-Banasree area, indicating the violence persisted throughout the day.
Sunday's Violence Sets the Stage
Monday's attacks followed a particularly volatile Sunday, when crude bombs exploded at multiple locations across the Dhaka University campus, including near the Teacher-Student Centre. Blasts were also reported near the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Malibagh and at Pallabi Police Station, where a member of the Special Response Battalion was injured after a crude bomb was reportedly hurled into the compound from a nearby flyover. Another individual sustained injuries in an explosion in Mirpur-11.
What the Police Said
Deputy Police Commissioner Md Akhtar Hossain, addressing the media at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Media Centre on Sunday, said police were closely monitoring the incidents and conducting investigations. He stated that several suspects — including members of banned organisations and their affiliated outfits — had been taken into custody. Hossain said police suspected that 'a particular group' was deliberately orchestrating sabotage activities to create panic among the public.
Scale and Pattern of the Violence
The coordinated nature of the attacks — striking universities, police facilities, courts, and public transport hubs within a compressed timeframe — suggests a deliberate strategy to maximise disruption and public fear, according to analysts cited in local reports. This is not an isolated flare-up: the targeting of law enforcement premises alongside civilian institutions points to an organised effort to undermine institutional confidence in the city.
What Comes Next
Security forces have ramped up patrolling across affected areas, and investigations into each incident are reportedly under way. With arrests already made and police flagging the involvement of banned organisations, authorities face pressure to identify the coordinating network before the violence escalates further. How Dhaka responds in the coming days will be closely watched both domestically and regionally.