200 Check-posts in capital after cocktail blasts and burnt vehicle

Police have heightened their security measures after Molotov cocktails detonated at separate places in the capital and an empty bus was set ablaze outside Kafrul Police Station on Friday (18 September).

Police mounted check posts at various entry points and key intersections of Dhaka Saturday morning (19 September)and searched some suspected persons. Police also scrutinised bags and mobile phones, alongside interrogating pedestrians.

At least 200 check-posts have been mounted at important points of the capital by police for the safety and security of common citizens, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Media and Public Relations Division Niaz Mehedi told Asia Post.

The incidents of cocktail explosions occurred one after another in Jatrabari area on Friday evening. But police were not able to confirm who was responsible for the explosions.

They said two cocktails were hurled from the outgoing flyover of Dhaka-Chattogram Highway towards the wall of Jatrabari Police Station compound by some unknown miscreants at around 7:30pm on Friday. One detonated, whilst the other did not.

Five minutes later, some unidentified criminals exploded three cocktails right in front of the Jatrabari intersection traffic police box from one side of the flyover entering Dhaka-Chattogram Highway. The incident left an auto-rickshaw driver, Md Ibadur Rahman, 26, injured. He was subsequently transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

An explosion came at Moghbazar intersection around 9:15 pm Friday night. But police were unable to find anyone linked to the incident. Unidentified miscreants set a stationary bus ablaze in the Kafrul area of Mirpur at some around 10pm. So far no arrests have been made and no suspects identified.

No one has yet been identified in connection with the bus arson act, Kafrul Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Saiful Islam said. Police, however, registered a case against unidentified suspects under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Also, two cocktail blasts went off in the Mohakhali area Friday. The first explosion occurred beside the Bangladesh Betar building in Agargaon, another in front of Fortune Shopping Mall at Mouchak intersection, one near the Sohag Paribahan bus counter in Malibagh area, under Babubazar Bridge in Old Dhaka, Gulistan area and Science Laboratory areas. So far, police have not identified or arrested anyone in connection with these incidents.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Niaz Mehedi said it was too early to say who might be responsible for the blasts, and he added that measures were being taken to detect the people behind the attack. Police were being as vigilant as possible to protect city residents, he said.

On Sptember 3rd, earlier known leaders and activists of the banned Awami League held standing in a procession in Gulshan area of the capital. Later, the in-charges of Gulshan Police Station and Deputy Commissioner of Gulshan Division were also removed from their respective posts.

The police then carried out operation to nab those who participated in the procession.

DMP Media and PR Division's Additional Deputy Commissioner Niaz Mehedi said, so far 179 have been arrested in this connection.