‘Dhaka lockdown’ sparks public anxiety and fear; schools and colleges closed

Darwin, 13 November –

AG Church School in Mogbazar, Dhaka announced a holiday on Thursday, citing safety concerns. In Khilgaon, National Ideal School did not officially close, but attendance was made optional.

Shahida Akter Momen, a guardian of a student at that school, told Deshkal News.com, “They didn’t officially close the school; the teachers said it’s just a formality. You should use your judgment about coming.”

Shahida’s daughter and niece both attend the school. She has decided not to send the children. When asked why, she said, “Doesn’t it feel risky? What if something happens. There are many things being posted in the school’s group.”

The concealed attacks surrounding the Dhaka lockdown program — announced by the Awami League for the day the verdict was to be delivered in a case accusing the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of crimes against humanity in connection with deaths during the 2024 mass uprising — have spread anxiety and tension.

The government, however, has offered reassurances: in addition to regular law enforcement, the BGB has been deployed, searches and arrest operations are underway. Political parties that supported the mass uprising have also announced they will take to the streets to prevent the Awami League workers (whose activities are banned) from carrying out ‘sabotage’.

Despite this, buses and cars have been set on fire here and there, and explosives have been detonated. Public transportation and other vehicle movement in the capital have decreased for two days.

On Thursday many educational institutions announced classes would be held online; exams and other events were postponed.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association, however, announced that public transport would run even on the day of the lockdown, and business owners said markets would remain open. Meanwhile, Interim Government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has announced he will deliver a speech to the nation at noon.

Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali, Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said, “Leaders and activists of a banned group and its allied organizations are trying to conduct political activities while in hiding. As part of this, they are attempting to create public panic through quick rallies in the capital. From October through November 11 they have held 14 brief rallies. They then spread images of these short-lived rallies on social media to announce their presence.”

What all this surrounds

Testimony and arguments in the case filed against deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the home minister in her government Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun have all concluded.

On October 23 the International Crimes Tribunal announced that the verdict would be delivered — that decision scheduled for November 13.

Among the three, Mamun has admitted guilt and become an approver (state witness).

Awami League leaders who went into hiding after the mass uprising are issuing threats. Announcements calling for a Dhaka lockdown were made on Facebook.

Since Monday evening buses in various parts of Dhaka have started being set on fire; outside Dhaka, a Grameen Bank office in Brahmanbaria was also torched. A cocktail bomb was thrown at a school in Mohammadpur before dawn.

Fourteen platoons of BGB have been deployed in and around Dhaka; twelve of those platoons are patrolling within the city.

Public transport reduced

Panic began among the public after buses were set on fire in Badda and Shahjadpur on Monday night.

Not only in Dhaka but also in Gazipur, Mymensingh, and Pabna, fires have been started on parked or moving buses.

Selim Rahman, a member of the Dhaka Bus Owners’ Association, told Deshkal News.com, “Previously, if buses were set on fire, the perpetrators at least used to get caught. Now they suddenly set vehicles ablaze at night and use explosives — nobody is getting caught. In this situation sending vehicles onto the road is risking lives.”

Mohammad Shafiq, a bus driver from Mohammadpur, said, “I saw a video of a bus being set on fire at Jatrabari yesterday. The owners told us not to run buses today. I’m also seeing fewer police on the roads.”

Ashish Kumar De, general secretary of the National Committee for the Protection of Waterways, Roads and Railways, told Deshkal News.com, “When political parties begin movements the danger falls on transport owners and workers. This time one innocent bus worker has already been killed. In our country, the lives of workers are not valued.”

Because of these incidents the roads in Dhaka were fairly empty on Wednesday. Even on a working day the familiar traffic jams were absent.

According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police data, nine vehicles were torched over two days. From November 1 to 11, 17 cocktail bomb explosions occurred at various locations.

At least 17 cases have been filed and around 50 people have been arrested in connection with these incidents.

Buses will run

Explosions also occurred on the night before the scheduled verdict near the Dhaka airport area and at Dhaka University’s TSC; several buses were set on fire.

Kazi Zobayer Masud, joint general secretary of the Road Transport Owners’ Association, said they would not keep buses off the road.

“Public transport will run on the road tomorrow (Thursday) as on other days. But to avoid any arson incidents, owners and workers have been warned. Letters have been sent to transport owners at every bus terminal instructing that each bus must carry a fire extinguisher.”

On the night of November 10 a bus was set on fire in Fulbaria, Mymensingh; one worker was killed. In protest, workers staged demonstrations at terminals across the country on Wednesday. They announced they would guard terminals overnight and on Thursday.

Universities switch to online classes

On Wednesday evening BRAC University told students in an email that Thursday’s classes would be online “due to the unavoidable situation in the country.”

East West University announced that all classes on Wednesday and Thursday would be held online “due to unavoidable circumstances.” No previously scheduled examinations would take place during this period. Staff would also work from home on Thursday.

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh also decided to hold Thursday’s classes online considering the situation.

Shanto-Mariam University, in an emergency notice, said all exams and classes scheduled for November 13 were postponed due to unavoidable reasons. They will review the situation the next day and announce updates regarding classes and exams.

North South University initially decided to hold classes online on November 13 but later revised that decision — classes and exams will be held in person on that day according to the normal schedule.

An event scheduled for Thursday at the Muzaffar Ahmad Chowdhury Auditorium of Dhaka University by the DJJS Japanese Language Club has been postponed. The event had sponsorship from the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka and the Japan Foundation.

Because of the ‘Dhaka lockdown’ program, the Japanese Embassy and Japanese nationals objected to participation in the event.

Although the organizers attempted to hold the event on the planned date, they were ultimately forced to change the date at the request of the embassy.

Counter-programs and assurances

Political parties aligned with the mass uprising have also declared they will take to the streets to stop the Awami League’s program.

To prevent any mischief or sabotage on Wednesday, eight religious parties led by Jamaat-e-Islami announced a program.

Mia Golam Parwar, Jamaat’s secretary-general, said, “On November 13 the conspiracy to carry out sabotage across the country will be foiled by our party workers and the people. We will not allow fascists and their aides any chance to engage in sabotage.”

Jamaat’s student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir also announced it will be active on the streets. The organization’s central president Zahidul Islam said their programs will run across the country, not only in Dhaka.

At a press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday he said, “We want to make it clear to them — in a new Bangladesh there is no place for fascism or anarchy. The student community and the people will resist any attempt to undermine peace and order.”

The July War-fighters and National Citizen Party (NCP) have also announced they will take to the streets.

NCP chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said, “To stop the Awami League from organizing on the field, one Hasnat Abdullah of ours is enough. Hasnat Abdullah has already shut down Awami League activities in Bangladesh.””