Two crude bombs, commonly referred to as “cocktail bombs,” exploded in two separate locations near the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Thursday night (13 November). Although the blasts caused panic in the area, authorities confirmed that no injuries or casualties resulted from the incidents.
According to airport officials, the first explosion occurred around 10:20 p.m. in front of the outgoing gate at the airport roundabout—a zone that typically remains busy with departing passengers and vehicular traffic. Minutes later, a second crude bomb detonated in front of Xinjiang Restaurant in Uttara Sector 1, under the jurisdiction of the Airport Police Station.
Sheikh Rafiqul Islam, the investigating officer at the Airport Police Station, stated that initial assessments suggest the explosives may have been thrown from the nearby flyover. “Police have collected samples from the spots. We are examining the type of explosives used, identifying possible suspects, and investigating the motive behind the attack,” he said.
Following the blasts, law enforcement agencies—including airport security units, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and specialized bomb disposal teams—intensified patrols around the airport and its adjoining areas. Entry and exit points were briefly inspected as part of precautionary measures, and CCTV footage from nearby locations is being reviewed to trace movements before and after the explosions.
Although no group has claimed responsibility so far, officials say they are evaluating whether the incidents were intended to create panic, test security preparedness, or disrupt airport operations during a period of heightened political tension in the country.
Investigations are ongoing.
