Dhaka's usually congested streets seemed unexpectedly empty today (11 November), after the city woke up following a string of arson attacks and crude bomb explosions that rattled several neighbourhoods over the past two days.

At least three police officers told The Business Standard that traffic in the capital was thinner than on previous days.

One traffic official, on condition of anonymity, said it could be due to the sudden crude bomb explosions and arson attacks on several buses. "Vehicular movement is lower than on a typical day."

Meanwhile, a restaurant manager on Gulshan Avenue said that last night, the establishment served only two-thirds of its usual weekday customers. 

Fear has gripped the city following the arson and crude bomb attacks ahead of the banned Awami League's "Dhaka lockdown" programme, he remarked.

The capital has witnessed a series of such attacks in the last few days, raising concerns over security despite heightened law enforcement measures ahead of the banned Awami League's 13 November programme.

Unidentified individuals set fire to four vehicles, including a car, in different parts of the capital early today.

Early yesterday, two buses were torched within half an hour in Merul Badda and Shahjadpur areas of the capital. Later, at about 7:30pm, another bus was set on fire in Dhanmondi, belonging to Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology. 

Besides, a crude bomb exploded yesterday in front of the Grameen Bank headquarters in Mirpur at about 4am.

Three hours later, two crude bombs went off in front of Shashya Prabartana, an establishment owned by Fisheries Adviser Farida Akhter, in Mohammadpur.

At nearly the same time, unidentified assailants on a motorcycle hurled crude bombs in front of Midas Center at Dhanmondi 27 before speeding away. 

Later in the day, at about 6:30pm, three crude bombs exploded in front of Shah Ali Market near the Mirpur 10 roundabout. Besides, another crude bomb exploded on the Khilgaon flyover around the same time.

Traffic / Dhaka