Arson attack, cocktail blasts aimed to spread public panic: DMP

Recent cocktail bomb explosions and arson attacks targeting public transport across the capital are deliberate attempts to spread panic among people and carry out acts of sabotage, said the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Sunday.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) Mohammad Akter Hossain disclosed the assessment while responding to reporters' questions at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road on Sunday.

Explaining the police response, Akter Hossain said law enforcement agencies were closely monitoring and investigating every incident involving cocktail explosions and vehicle arson.

Several people have already been arrested in connection with the incidents, including members of various banned organisations and their affiliated bodies, he said.

"An overall assessment indicates that a particular group is deliberately carrying out these activities to spread panic and create sabotage," the DMP official said.

He added that the police had intensified operational activities and deployments based on intelligence information.

To ensure public safety and dispel fear among residents, the DMP has strengthened surveillance alongside mobile patrols and checkpoint duties across the capital.

Responding to a question about where materials used to make cocktail bombs were being sourced, Akter Hossain said Detective Branch (DB) police had previously arrested several people along with explosive materials and components used in making such devices.

He said the DMP was also monitoring whether flammable substances were being purchased or traded at petrol stations or other locations for sabotage purposes.

The police are analysing CCTV footage to identify individuals suspected of collecting flammable materials for carrying out attacks, he added.

He said DMP operations and surveillance efforts would continue to identify and bring those responsible to justice.