DHAKA — A nationwide strike called by the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) has been accompanied by reports of clashes, arson attacks, crude bomb explosions, vandalism and road blockades in several parts of Bangladesh, disrupting transport and raising security concerns.
Incidents have been reported in Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Chattogram, Dhaka, Gazipur, Faridpur, Khagrachhari and Rangamati, with law enforcement agencies stepping up security measures to contain the unrest.
Clashes and arrests in Gopalganj
Gopalganj witnessed some of the most serious incidents, with repeated clashes between protesters and police in Tungipara. A police vehicle was set on fire and several shops were vandalised.
At least 10 people, including police personnel, were reportedly injured. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.
Six platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed in the district. Crude bomb explosions and road blockades were also reported in Gopalganj Sadar, Kashiani and Kotalipara.
Police said they had arrested eight people and seized 15 crude bombs and seven motorcycles in connection with the incidents.
Road blockade and explosions in Shariatpur
In Shariatpur, protesters carrying traditional bamboo poles and oars blocked the Dhaka-Bhanga Expressway near the southern toll plaza at the Janjira end of the Padma Bridge.
Several crude bomb explosions and the vandalism of two trucks were reported during the blockade, disrupting traffic for nearly an hour.
Traffic resumed after police and highway police personnel cleared the protesters from the road.
Arson and vandalism reported in Chattogram
Several incidents of arson, vandalism and crude bomb explosions were reported in Chattogram city and surrounding areas, including Khulshi, City Gate, Hathazari, Anwara and Satkania.
A bus was set on fire in the Mansurabad area near City Gate, while a truck seized by police was torched in Khulshi.
In Anwara, an explosion and fire at a branch of Grameen Bank damaged some documents.
Police detained three people over the vandalism of a bus in Hathazari. Two petrol bombs were reportedly recovered from their possession.
Buses torched in Dhaka outskirts and Gazipur
Two buses were set on fire in separate incidents in Namagandha in Savar and Ainagan in Dhamrai, on the outskirts of Dhaka. Firefighters brought the blazes under control.
Police also cordoned off an area after a suspicious object resembling an explosive device was found in front of an educational institution in Savar.
In Gazipur’s Kaliakair area, two buses and a covered van were set on fire in separate incidents near Chandra. Police are investigating the attacks.
Bus driver killed in Faridpur fire
In Faridpur, a 60-year-old bus driver, identified as Kalachan Sheikh, died after a bus parked at the city’s new bus terminal was set on fire.
According to police, he was sleeping inside the vehicle when the fire broke out. He died from suffocation caused by smoke and fumes.
Another bus was also reportedly torched in the Krishnanagar area of the district.
Political office torched in Khagrachhari
In Khagrachhari, a ward office of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was completely gutted in a fire in the Barapilak area of Guimara upazila.
Police detained six suspects in connection with the incident. A vehicle locally known as a ‘Chander Gari’ was also set on fire in Khagrachhari town.
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Court and educational institutions locked in Rangamati
In Rangamati town, the main gates of a court and three educational institutions were locked.
Police have launched an investigation after reviewing videos of the incident circulated on social media.
36 BGB platoons deployed in industrial areas
Authorities have deployed 36 platoons of the BGB across Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj to strengthen security in key industrial zones and other sensitive locations.
Of the deployed personnel, 14 platoons are stationed in Savar and Ashulia, three in Mirpur, nine in Narayanganj and 10 in different industrial areas of Gazipur.
Two special patrol teams are also operating in Narayanganj and surrounding areas. The BGB headquarters’ monitoring cell is overseeing the situation using drones and body cameras.
Police said 11 people had been arrested and six others detained during overnight operations in different locations. The figures may overlap with arrests reported separately by district police.
Public life disrupted as security tightened
The incidents have raised concerns over public safety, particularly around highways, public transport routes, industrial zones and important installations.
Road blockades and attacks on vehicles disrupted traffic in several areas, while security was reinforced at sensitive locations.
Law enforcement agencies have continued operations to identify and apprehend those responsible for arson, vandalism and explosions as authorities monitor developments across the country.
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