Several arson attacks took place yesterday in at least five districts, leaving a bus driver seriously injured in Manikganj.

The attacks came a day after the Awami League's "Dhaka lockdown" programme. At least 30 vehicles, mostly buses, were set ablaze in run-up to the programme and during it. Dozens of crude bomb blasts were also reported across the country.

Two deaths have been reported so far. On Tuesday, a bus driver was burned to death after miscreants set fire to his vehicle in Mymensingh's Phulbaria . On Thursday, a youth died after jumping into the Turag river while fleeing a crowd that chased him for allegedly setting a bus on fire in Dhaka's Mirpur area.

In the capital, police yesterday recovered at least 35 crude bombs and bomb-making materials from Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur.

Kazi Rafique, officer-in-charge of Mohammadpur Police Station, said the raid was conducted based on information that some miscreants are making crude bombs. The seized explosives would be defused later, he said.

Around 9:00pm, a crude bomb exploded in front of the Mohakhali kitchen market, said Rasel Sarwar, OC of Banani Police Station. No casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested five leaders and activists of the AL and its affiliated bodies in the past 24 hours for allegedly attempting sabotage and preparing for flash rallies.

The AL, whose activities are now banned, announced the "lockdown" after the International Crimes Tribunal-1 set Thursday for fixing the date for delivering the verdict in a case against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina on charges of crimes against humanity. Later, the tribunal set November 17 as the verdict date.

Apart from police and army, 12 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh are patrolling the capital to strengthen security and maintain law and order, said Shariful Islam, the BGB public relations officer.

In Manikganj, unidentified miscreants set fire to a parked school bus early yesterday, seriously injuring the driver, Tabez Khan, 45, who was asleep inside. The incident occurred around 3:00am in the Folsatia area of Shibalaya upazila, said Sub-Inspector Suman Chakraborty.

Tabez was first taken to the Sadar hospital and later referred to Dhaka's National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute for advanced treatment.

Shibalaya Police Station OC SM Aman Ullah said investigators are looking into whether the attack was an act of sabotage.

In Barguna, a parked bus of Swarna Paribahan was set on fire around midnight in the Bandhghat area in Amtali upazila. Police later arrested five activists of various AL associate bodies for their alleged involvement, said Amir Hossain Serniabad, an officer of Amtali Police Station.

The arrestees are Ataur Rahman Russell, 29; Parvez Khan, 28; Tanmoy Gazi, 33; Kawshar Ahmed Rony, 33; and Saghir Mallik, 23.

In Gazipur, unidentified miscreants set fire to a parked bus in Baktarpur of Kaliakair upazila around 3:00am. No one was injured, though part of the bus was damaged, said Habibur Rahman Ukil, inspector of Kaliakair Police Station. A case has been filed against unnamed individuals.

Monir Hossain, a staff member of Itihas Paribahan, said four persons arrived on two motorcycles around midnight, boarded the bus, set the seats on fire and fled. Locals managed to douse the flames before firefighters reached the spot.

In Kishoreganj, miscreants set fire to a boat moored at a river ghat in Nikli upazila, burning it to ashes and partially damaging another boat. The incident occurred early yesterday under the Kamalpur Bridge near Moharkona. Police are trying to identify those involved.

In Khulna, police recovered four bomb-like objects in Terokhada upazila yesterday morning after three explosions near the house of a local union parishad member triggered panic among residents, reports UNB.

Mehedi Hasan, OC of Terokhada Police Station, said the blasts occurred around 3:30am at the entrance of UP member Bellal Molla's house in Parhajigram Katasia Bazar area of Madhupur Union.