The most serious incident occurred at around 12.30am on Tuesday, 10 November, when unidentified individuals set fire to a parked minibus in front of a police box at Manikganj Bus Stand on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway.
After setting the vehicle alight, the attackers fled the scene. Police and a Fire Service unit rushed to the location after receiving information about the incident and brought the blaze under control. No casualties were reported.
Mohammad Salahuddin, Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle), said officers responded promptly after being informed of the arson attack and took steps to bring the situation under control. Police are working to identify those responsible and bring them into custody.
The bus fire followed a series of explosions across the district that began shortly after Monday evening. Crude bombs were detonated at several locations, including outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office, near the bus terminal, around various political party offices, outside the residence of the Superintendent of Police, near the Paturia Police Outpost and in front of Ghior Bus Stand.
There were also reports of tyres being set on fire at several locations. The repeated explosions and incidents of arson throughout the evening and night caused considerable alarm among local residents, raising concerns about public safety and the possibility of further violence.
Following the incidents, law enforcement agencies launched operations across different parts of the district to identify those involved and prevent further disorder.
During overnight raids, police detained 10 suspects from different areas. Six were detained by Manikganj Sadar Police Station, two by the District Detective Branch (DB), one by Singair Police Station and another by Daulatpur Police Station.
Police have not disclosed the identities of those detained. Their alleged involvement in the incidents is yet to be established, and further questioning is under way.
Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sarwar Alam confirmed the incidents and said 10 people had been detained over allegations of involvement in activities intended to create instability in the district, including crude bomb explosions and the arson attack on the minibus.
He said the detainees were being questioned and that legal proceedings were under way.
The incidents have raised fresh concerns over security in Manikganj, particularly given the number of locations reportedly targeted within a relatively short period. The involvement of several public institutions, police facilities and political offices has added to the seriousness of the situation.
The attack on a parked vehicle beside a police box on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway has also drawn attention to the security risks surrounding major transport hubs. Such incidents can create uncertainty among passengers, transport workers and local businesses, particularly when they occur during the night.
Police are continuing their investigation to establish whether the separate incidents were connected, identify those responsible and determine the motive behind the attacks. The circumstances surrounding the detainees’ alleged involvement will also need to be established through the investigation.
