Dhaka, Nov 17 (V7N) — Bangladesh is witnessing a sharp rise in arson attacks, explosions, and overnight sabotage as the country braces for today’s verdict in a major war crimes case involving three accused, including Sheikh Hasina. Security forces remain on maximum alert, with BGB deployments in Dhaka and multiple districts.

From Saturday midnight to early Sunday, ten crude bombs exploded across eight locations in Dhaka. A bus was torched in Hazaribagh, while at least 39 vehicles have been set on fire in different parts of the country over the past week. Police say most incidents occurred between midnight and 4 a.m., signaling coordinated attempts to create unrest.

RAB-2 arrested Mohammad Hazbul Alam Raju, general secretary of Chhatra League Ward-29, with a foreign-made revolver in Mohammadpur’s Nabodoy Housing area. Outside Dhaka, arsonists targeted a parked D-Link bus in Dhamrai late Sunday night.

In Barishal, Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury told reporters that the government is fully prepared to execute any verdict delivered by the International Crimes Tribunal and will not allow violence to disrupt law and order.

Ahead of the verdict, Awami League announced a “Dhaka Lockdown” program beginning November 13, followed by a two-day nationwide shutdown. Jamaat-e-Islami and its allied parties also declared they would remain active on the streets.

Multiple explosions rocked Dhaka on Sunday evening. Blast sites included Moghbazar, Karwan Bazar, Central Road, and Banglamotor. One man, Abdul Basir, was injured in the Moghbazar incident. Police recovered unexploded devices from other spots, sparking jurisdictional confusion among overlapping police stations.

In Sylhet, attackers set fire to an ambulance inside Shamsuddin Hospital. CCTV footage shows five motorcycle riders entering the compound before igniting the vehicle. A separate attack damaged a bus at Kumargaon Bus Stand.

Savar’s Dhaka–Aricha Highway saw a bus torched around 3:30 a.m. In Keraniganj, a Bolaka Paribahan bus was set ablaze before dawn, injuring a sleeping assistant. Later, a dumping truck inside Keraniganj Police Station was also burned.

Security concerns increased after petrol bombs were hurled at Grameen Bank branches in Gazipur and Bogura. CCTV and eyewitness accounts confirmed groups of 7–8 attackers fled the scenes within minutes.

In Feni, the July Martyrs’ Memorial was torched before dawn. The video quickly spread on social media, prompting a police investigation into surrounding CCTV coverage.

Highways in Gopalganj and Madaripur were blocked for hours as Awami League supporters felled trees and burned tires, disrupting major transport routes. Police and fire service teams cleared the roads in several phases.

Supreme Court authorities have officially requested army deployment around the International Crimes Tribunal premises to prevent unrest during the verdict announcement. A similar deployment took place earlier this week.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation said all vehicles will run nationwide on Monday and urged the government to compensate owners and drivers affected by arson attacks.

In Chattogram’s Soloshahar area, residents reported loud blasts Sunday night. Police later confirmed the sounds came from firecrackers, not explosives.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested ten banned Awami League leaders suspected of funding flash processions and torching vehicles. RAB seized six crude bombs in another operation in Bhashila. Cumilla police detained 29 banned Chhatra League activists carrying sticks, banners, and lighters in a planned overnight gathering.

In Gopalganj, four terrorism cases name 200 individuals and list over 700 unknown suspects. Six have been arrested so far. In Ashulia, police detained seven Awami League activists linked to previous unrest during student protests.

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