Two cocktail explosions occurred in Dhaka’s Mirpur and Hatirjheel areas on Saturday (15 November) between 6:00 PM and 7:15 PM.In the Hatirjheel incident, a motorcycle was damaged due to the explosion. However, no damage was reported in the Mirpur area, according to police sources.

Police Statement and Investigation

Staff Correspondent ।। Md. Mizanur Rahman, Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Mirpur Division, said that a cocktail explosion took place around 5:30 PM near the BRTA area. “At this moment, the identities of the perpetrators are unknown. CCTV footage from the scene is being analyzed,” he added.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Fuad Ahmed, Duty Officer of Hatirjheel Police Station, confirmed receiving reports of the explosion and stated that police have been dispatched to the site.

Context and Background

It is notable that 13 November was the scheduled date for the verdict in the war crimes and crimes against humanity case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the Awami League, who is currently in exile in India following the July uprising. Around this date, provocative campaigns by exiled Awami League activists were observed on social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok.

Reports indicate that the banned Awami League had declared a “lockdown” on 13 November, during which cocktail explosions and arson incidents were carried out in different parts of the country.

Following these events, over the past few days, there have been continued attempts to create panic and disrupt law and order in Dhaka through the throwing of cocktail-like devices and arson attacks on vehicles across various areas.