The explosion took place at approximately 9.20pm on Thursday (12 November) on the road in front of Bangladesh Bank’s headquarters. The incident was confirmed by Debabrata, a sub-inspector at Motijheel Police Station, at around 12.45am.
According to the police, the attackers were travelling in a battery-powered auto-rickshaw when they threw the explosive device towards the road outside the central bank. The device exploded on the street while the suspects were still inside the vehicle. They subsequently left the area in the same auto-rickshaw.
Police received information about the explosion and officers, including senior officials, went to the scene to assess the situation. Initial reports indicated that nobody had been injured in the incident.
Speaking about the incident, Sub-Inspector Debabrata said several police teams had been assigned to investigate the matter. He confirmed that no casualties had been reported and said officers were working to identify those responsible.
The police are yet to establish who carried out the attack or what motivated it. Investigators are seeking to determine the identities of the individuals involved and establish the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
The location of the incident makes it particularly significant. Bangladesh Bank serves as the country’s central banking authority, overseeing monetary policy, currency management and key functions within the national financial system. Its headquarters is situated in Motijheel, one of Dhaka’s principal commercial districts, where numerous banks, financial institutions and important offices are located.
An explosive incident outside such a sensitive institution is likely to draw particular attention to security arrangements in the surrounding area. The use of a moving auto-rickshaw also presents an investigative challenge, as those involved may have been able to leave the scene quickly without remaining in the immediate vicinity.
Investigators may examine available CCTV footage from nearby buildings and roads, alongside other evidence and accounts from people who witnessed the incident, to establish the suspects’ movements and identify the vehicle involved. However, the police have not yet provided any details about whether such footage has been collected or whether anyone has been detained.
Although the explosion caused no reported injuries, the incident has highlighted the importance of maintaining security around major financial institutions and other sensitive public facilities.
Police said their investigation was continuing, with multiple teams working to identify the perpetrators and establish the motive behind the attack.
