Cocktail Blast in New Eskaton amid road blockade, arson other places
Bangladesh: A pedestrian was injured after a crude explosive device—commonly known as a “cocktail”—detonated in front of the Waqf Building on New Eskaton Road in Dhaka on Sunday morning.
The explosion occurred around 8:40am. The injured man, 50-year-old Abdul Bashir, works for a private organisation and was walking to his office in Banglamotor when the device went off. He sustained injuries to his leg and hand.
Bashir said he was following his usual morning route when the blast suddenly erupted. He suspects the device may have been thrown from the flyover above the road.
The incident comes amid nationwide unrest ahead of Monday’s scheduled verdict in a case filed against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina over alleged crimes against humanity during the July uprising. The banned Awami League had earlier announced a “lockdown” programme on 13 November, the original date set for the verdict, and several areas of Dhaka have since witnessed explosions and arson attacks.
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is set to deliver the verdict tomorrow (17 November).
As political tensions rise, the Awami League is again calling for online demonstrations. Meanwhile, isolated explosions and incidents of arson continue to occur in different districts.
Road Blockades on Dhaka–Barishal Highway
Leaders and activists of the banned Awami League blocked parts of the Dhaka–Barishal highway early Sunday by felling trees and burning tyres, causing severe traffic congestion and suffering for long-distance travellers.
The blockade began at dawn in Madaripur’s Dasar upazila, including Gopalpur bus stand and surrounding areas. Police and fire service personnel launched operations to clear the road and prevent further acts of sabotage.
Dasar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Md. Ehteshamul Islam said trees had been cut down and placed across the highway at seven to eight different points in Dasar and Kalkini.
He said several crude bombs were also detonated.
“I found the remains of four exploded cocktails at the site,” he said, adding that no protesters were present when police arrived.
Tree removal was completed in the Dasar section, while work continued in the Kalkini area till filing of this report due to larger trees obstructing the road.
Tree-Felling Attempt to Block Dhaka–Khulna Highway in Gopalganj
In Gopalganj’s Kashiani upazila, members of the banned Awami League and its affiliated groups allegedly attempted to block the Dhaka–Khulna highway by cutting trees in the early hours of Sunday.
Kashiani Police Station OC Kamal Hossain said the incident occurred around 3:30am near Gopalpur Bazar.
Several trees were felled, disrupting traffic and damaging a Dhaka-bound bus of Hamim Paribahan.
Police and army personnel from the nearby Ratail Army Camp quickly intervened, clearing the road and restoring traffic by 4:30am.
Arson Attack on Parked Covered Van in Mymensingh
Unidentified miscreants set fire to a covered van parked near the Akua Bypass area of Mymensingh city shortly before midnight on Saturday.
Kotwali Police Station OC Muhammad Shibirul Islam said the driver had parked the vehicle around 8pm and gone home. Hours later, criminals torched the van, burning it completely. Locals tried but failed to put out the flames.
“This is part of a series of sabotage attempts linked to the verdict against fascist Sheikh Hasina,” the OC alleged, adding that those responsible will be identified and brought to justice.
Moving Bus Catches Fire in Gazipur
In Gazipur, a passenger bus caught fire while travelling along the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway on Saturday night. The incident took place around 8pm in Gacha thana’s Hurricane area.
Iqbal Hasan, senior station officer of Gazipur Chowrasta Modern Fire Service, said two fire units brought the blaze under control within 20 minutes. No casualties were reported, but nearly 80% of the vehicle was burned.
Eyewitness Babul Hossain said he was standing nearby when he suddenly saw flames erupting from the engine. About 10 passengers were on board, but all managed to escape safely. The driver and helper were not found at the scene.
Gacha Police Station OC Md Aminul Islam said the fire appears to have been caused by a mechanical malfunction.
In Satkania, Chattogram, miscreants attempted to carry out sabotage by placing tree branches on the railway track early Sunday.
Railway security personnel quickly removed the debris after receiving information, preventing any disruption to train services.
According to railway officials, branches had been scattered across the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar rail line in the Dhemsha Union area, about one kilometre south of Satkania Railway Station.
Authorities learned of the obstruction around 6:00am, and within 20 minutes, security staff arrived at the spot and cleared the track, ensuring safe and uninterrupted train movement.
