Panic Politics: AL Remnants Accused of Undermining Stability as Analysts Call for Unity

Crude bombs exploded at around 30 locations across Dhaka on Sunday and Monday, prompting police to suspect that activists of the banned Awami League were attempting to spread panic and fuel political tensions ahead of December. Amid growing concerns over security, analysts have called on the ruling BNP and other anti-fascist political forces to maintain unity and resist any attempts to destabilise the country.

The attacks, involving crude bomb explosions and arson, targeted police stations, government offices, universities and other important establishments. Police have arrested 24 people suspected of involvement in the incidents.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has intensified surveillance, checkpoint operations and search activities across the capital.

The latest incidents come amid a series of street clashes, arson attacks on public transport and unrest surrounding garment workers' protests. However, no political party has publicly produced conclusive evidence identifying those responsible for the attacks.

A senior DMP official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attackers deliberately selected locations with limited CCTV coverage and fewer police personnel. They allegedly used motorcycles without registration plates and escaped immediately after carrying out the attacks.

According to the official, suspects frequently visited targeted locations one or two days before an incident and operated in small groups, with each member assigned a specific responsibility. One person surveyed the area, another threw the bomb, a third recorded the incident and another monitored the surroundings for potential witnesses.

"They then send the video to some people living abroad. The amount of money they receive depends on the sensitivity of the location where they carry out the attack," the official said.

He added that police had received no advance intelligence about the specific attacks, although surveillance of suspected individuals had already been strengthened.

A senior Special Response Battalion (SRB) official, also speaking anonymously, blamed members of the banned political party and said intelligence reports suggested that further attacks could be carried out in a more organised manner.

"We have intelligence information indicating that they may attempt to carry out such incidents in a more organised manner. However, our intelligence activities have been significantly strengthened. We will be able to thwart their attempts completely," the official said.

Another law enforcement source said members of a banned organisation had been conducting covert attacks since August. Police personnel across the country had previously been alerted to the possibility of sabotage, the source added.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Akhtar Hossain said on Sunday that miscreants were attempting to create panic and that police establishments might have been among their intended targets.

He confirmed that three people had been detained over the explosions at Dhaka University's TSC. Search operations at checkpoints were also being conducted under the supervision of individual police stations, with suspicious individuals questioned and searched.

The Detective Branch (DB) had previously arrested several people allegedly involved in making crude bombs and recovered explosive materials, he said. Police were also examining CCTV footage to identify individuals suspected of collecting inflammable substances.

Multiple explosions and arson attacks across Dhaka

On Monday, explosions were reported between 6am and 8am near several government offices and educational institutions.

Local sources said a procession was organised under the banner of Rampura thana Awami League, led by its convener Mostak Ahmed, during which eight to 10 crude bombs allegedly exploded. Rampura Police Station Duty Officer Riaz confirmed the incident and said two separate cases were being prepared.

Other explosions were reported near a KFC outlet in Dhanmondi, a coffee shop in Khilgaon, Banasree's G Block, the DMP's Tejgaon Division office, Cantonment Police Station, BRAC University, Government Titumir College, Aftabnagar Passport Office and Shanta-Mariam University of Creative Technology.

Later in the evening, several shops in front of Mirpur Bangla College's main gate were set on fire amid multiple explosions. Crude bombs also exploded near Dhaka Central Jail, while a Lovely Paribahan bus was torched near Farmgate Metro Station.

Around 6pm, two crude bombs exploded near Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court. Police detained two people in connection with the incident and seized their motorcycle.

On Sunday, crude bombs exploded outside Pallabi Police Station, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office in Pallabi, the Darus Salam Traffic Zone office and Uttara East Police Station, where three consecutive explosions were reported.

A bomb thrown towards the Ansar headquarters in Khilgaon exploded inside the premises. Jatrabari Police Station was also targeted on three consecutive days.

Between 6pm and 7pm, explosions were reported at several locations on the Dhaka University campus, including TSC, VC Chattar, the Senate Building and areas near Jagannath Hall. Other explosions occurred outside North South University and Southeast University.

At around 5:40pm, a parked school bus belonging to Jolsiri Cantonment School was set on fire on 100 Feet Road in Vatara.

Several arrests as police tighten security

Police said Ashraful, identified as a Chhatra League member, had been arrested for allegedly attempting a crude bomb attack in Rupnagar. Another alleged Chhatra League leader, Md Biplob Khan, 33, was arrested in Turag.

Twelve people were arrested in connection with a 5 November attack on law enforcement personnel in front of the Golf Club in Cantonment. Of them, four were arrested by local police, five by the DB and three by the Special Response Unit.

Rampura police also arrested Shraban Sardar, 20, and Robin, 27, over the Banasree explosion. Three additional suspects were detained over the bus arson attack on 100 Feet Road.

Police have announced special security arrangements for Tuesday amid concerns about further incidents.

"We have a special plan for Tuesday, but we are not disclosing the details at this stage," said Paltan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ariful Islam.

Vatara OC Mazharul Islam confirmed that a separate security plan had been prepared for his jurisdiction.

Pallabi OC Jalal Uddin said police personnel were ready to operate in both uniform and plain clothes.

"Our regular patrols are continuing as usual, and they will be intensified further on Tuesday," he said.

Hasina's reported return plans add to political tension

The attacks come amid reports that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is seeking to return to Bangladesh from India in December.

Hasina was sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal in November last year over crimes against humanity committed during the July-August 2024 crackdown. She has rejected the verdict and questioned the tribunal's legitimacy.

On Monday, media reports said she had applied to the Bangladesh mission in New Delhi for a new passport and national identity card (NID).

The government continues to seek her extradition under the bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and India. Hasina, however, has said she intends to return to Bangladesh as a citizen.

The Awami League's political activities remain banned, while its party registration has been suspended.

BNP, Jamaat and NCP trade accusations

Although the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) are all opposed to the Awami League, tensions and mutual accusations have emerged among the parties at recent political rallies.

Jamaat leaders and the NCP, one of the party's key political allies, have accused the BNP of attempting to reach an understanding with the Awami League.

BNP leaders, meanwhile, have alleged that Jamaat has links with the ousted political forces and is attempting to push the country into another crisis, similar to what they allege the party did during the 1971 Liberation War.

Neither side has publicly presented conclusive evidence to substantiate these allegations.

Addressing a rally in Rajshahi on 20 October, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said he had intelligence suggesting that the ousted autocrat and a faction of the opposition had joined forces to create instability and fuel labour unrest.

Jamaat Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman, in a post on his verified Facebook page, said the people of Bangladesh would not accept any attempt to rehabilitate the Awami League.

He maintained that the party's political chapter had ended on 5 August 2024, when it was removed from power through a mass uprising, and there was no possibility of reopening it.

Analysts call for political unity

Prof Dr Sabbir Ahmed of Dhaka University's Department of Political Science told the Daily Sun that both the government and opposition shared responsibility for the prevailing political instability.

He said neither side had clearly resolved its position on Hasina's extradition, while gaps in policymaking had created opportunities for subversive activities, including crude bomb attacks and arson targeting public transport.

The recent incidents, coupled with growing divisions among political parties, indicated what he described as a sharp resurgence of fascist forces in the country.

Jamaat spokesperson and Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer told the Daily Sun that his party remained committed to maintaining unity against any attempt by fascist forces to return to the political landscape.

"However, the ruling BNP will be held responsible if the ousted Awami League gets political space in the country, as it did not uphold its promise regarding reform to the constitution," he said.

He said political divisions became apparent when BNP and its allied lawmakers declined to take the secondary oath for the Constitution Reform Council on 17 February.

The parties continue to disagree over the implementation of the referendum verdict in accordance with the July National Charter.

BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, however, dismissed suggestions of any division among the political parties over resisting the Awami League's return.

"BNP, Jamaat and NCP do politics, upholding their own political ideologies, but there is no disunity among us in terms of resisting the reemergence of the Awami League in the country," he told the Daily Sun.

He said the activities of the ousted party's members could not be considered legitimate political activities, arguing that their objective was to push the country into another crisis.

Dudu stressed that the government must strengthen law enforcement agencies to effectively tackle subversive activities and maintain firm control over the law and order situation.

Such measures are essential to ensuring political stability, economic progress and sustainable development, he added.