Bangladesh On High Alert After Series Of Explosions, Arson Attacks Rock Dhaka Ahead of Sheikh Hasina Verdict

Bangladesh was rocked by a wave of explosions and arson attacks on Tuesday (Nov 11), prompting authorities to place the entire nation on high alert ahead of a crucial verdict in a high-profile trial against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is set to announce the date of its verdict on Thursday, November 13, in the case that accuses Hasina of crimes against humanity during last year’s violent uprising.

According to The Daily Star and local media outlets, multiple crude bomb attacks were reported across Dhaka, including near the headquarters of the Grameen Bank in Mirpur, an institution founded by the country’s interim head, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Another explosion occurred near Ibn Sina Hospital and the Midas Centre in Dhanmondi, while arson incidents were reported at Shah Ali Market in Mirpur and under the Khilgaon Flyover.

In one of the most serious incidents, a man was burned to death in Mymensingh after unidentified miscreants set a vehicle ablaze. Additional blasts were heard near the Mouchak intersection and the Bangladesh Betar office in Agargaon.

Security Tightened Nationwide

Following the attacks, law enforcement agencies, including the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), launched an extensive search operation across the capital. Authorities banned public gatherings near key government installations and deployed additional forces at airports, railway stations, and metro rail hubs.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that security around the ICT-BD tribunal had been strengthened and that any attempt to enforce the Awami League’s planned nationwide lockdown on Thursday would be met with “the full force of the law.”

The attacks come just days before the tribunal’s announcement in the case against Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August 2024 after her government was overthrown during a student-led uprising that left over 1,400 people dead, according to a United Nations report. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus later initiated legal proceedings against Hasina, accusing her of mass killings and enforced disappearances during the July unrest.

Prosecutors are reportedly seeking the death penalty for Hasina, while her former aides—including ex-interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, have also been charged.

Awami League Calls Nationwide Lockdown

Despite a ban on political activity, leaders of the Bangladesh Awami League have called for a dawn-to-dusk nationwide lockdown on Thursday, urging citizens to protest what they describe as “false cases and sham trials.” Party statements shared on social media claim that “the streets of Bangladesh are rising again,” as supporters defy government restrictions.

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Over the past two days, flash rallies have been reported across several districts. Police have carried out raids to detain key Awami League leaders, while checkpoints have been set up across Dhaka.

A branch of Grameen Bank in Bijoynagar upazila was set on fire on Wednesday, officials said. While no casualties were reported, documents and furniture inside the building were destroyed. Authorities suspect the attacks may be politically motivated and linked to unrest surrounding the impending verdict.

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Bangladesh remains tense as the ICT prepares to deliver its decision. With elections expected in early 2026 and violence spreading across the nation, the coming days are being viewed as critical for the country’s fragile political stability.