Dhaka: Bangladesh has been shaken by series of incidents after more than 50 crude bomb blasts and at least eight buses set on fire in the city of Dhaka in the last few days.
A number of blasts occurred in Dhaka University, police stations and nearby areas of key government buildings, according to a report in the Bangladeshi daily newspaper Dhaka Tribune.
These incidents caused panic in Dhaka University on Sunday evening.
Series of blasts in Dhaka University
There were two loud blasts almost instantly from the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) area of the university campus which was busy in the evening.
More blasts were reported from the area around the administration building, outside VC Chattar and Mukti-Ganatantra Toron. A number of people were also detained by students as they tried to run away.
Crude bombs also exploded outside the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office in Malibagh.
Two men on motor-cycles allegedly planted three to four crude bombs in quick succession at the Chowrasta crossing in Jatrabari area in the early hours of Saturday and fled.
Another bomb went off outside the upazila parishad gate near Genda Bus Stand in Dhaka-Aricha Highway in Savar hours earlier. However, eyewitnesses could not identify the people behind the blast.
Police probe bomb blasts and arson
The Dhaka Tribune report said explosions were reported from around police stations, police buildings, government buildings and universities.
It also questioned who were behind the attacks, how they were getting hold of the crude bombs and if those detained by police were actually involved in the blasts.
“We are keeping a close watch on the incidents of crude bomb explosions and vehicle arson,” said Deputy Police Commissioner Md Akhtar Hossain, addressing the media at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Media Centre on Sunday.
“We are investigating these incidents. We have arrested several suspects including people associated with banned organisations and their related outfits.”
“We suspect that a certain group is intentionally creating panic among the people by creating the sabotage,” he added.
Crime analyst urges no innocent people should be arrested
“It is necessary to arrest people to keep law and order but we need to make sure innocent people are not targeted or harassed,” Dhaka University teacher and crime analyst Tawhidul Haque told Dhaka Tribune.
“No one should be called a bomb thrower without enough evidence coming up in the investigation.
The constant series of explosions and bus arsons have caused concern over security in the city and surrounding areas. The question remains as to who is behind these incidents.