Police in Manikganj have filed two separate cases implicating 51 named activists and up to 95 unnamed individuals in connection with a series of crude bomb explosions, arson, and highway blockades linked to a programme enforced by the banned Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League whose activities remain prohibited. Officers arrested one of the named suspects during a night-time operation on Wednesday, 11 November.
The detainee has been identified as Manik Fakir, 40, a resident of Barta village and a Ward-9 committee member of the Atigram Union Awami League under Manikganj Sadar upazila.
According to the first information reports (FIRs), the initial case—registered as Case No. 17 on 10 November under the Anti-Terrorism Act—names 17 individuals alongside 50 to 60 unidentified accused. Riyad Morshed, a former member of the Manikganj District Jubo Dal, lodged the complaint. The roster of named suspects includes five district and municipal Chhatra League leaders, three district and upazila Jubo League activists, and nine other figures affiliated with the Awami League and its associate bodies.
Charges in this first case have been brought under Sections 8, 9, 10, 12, and 13 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, alongside Section 3(a) of the Explosive Substances Act. The complaint specifies that the alleged offences occurred at approximately 6:45 pm on 9 November on the road bordering the north-eastern side of the Bijoy Mela ground in South Seota, Manikganj town.
A second case, logged as Case No. 18 on 11 November under the Special Powers Act, names 34 suspects and cites an additional 30 to 35 unnamed accomplices. Sub-Inspector Md Ershad Ali of Manikganj Sadar Police Station filed the case. This charge sheet targets 25 district and upazila Chhatra League members, four Awami League activists, two Jubo League members, one Swechchhasebak League activist, one Sramik League member, and one individual of unspecified affiliation.
Brought under Sections 15(3) and 25-D of the Special Powers Act, 1974, as well as Section 3(a) of the Explosive Substances Act, the second FIR details an incident at 12:15 am on 10 November in an open area south of the Baitul Aman Jame Mosque at the Manikganj bus stand.
Both legal actions stem from a wave of coordinated disturbances across the district following the evening of 9 November. Series of crude bombs were detonated near sensitive administrative and residential sites, including the Manikganj Deputy Commissioner’s office, the main bus terminal, the Superintendent of Police’s residence, and the Paturia police outpost. Simultaneously, protesters set tyres ablaze across several points in Saturia, Shibalaya, and Singair upazilas to disrupt transport links. Around 12:30 am, assailants doused a parked minibus in petrol and set it alight in front of Nabin Cinema Hall at the Manikganj bus stand, gutting nearly half of the vehicle.
Investigators allege in the case dossiers that the perpetrators gathered on the highways with the intent to destabilise and oust the incumbent government, obstructing vehicular movement, torching public transport, and detonating explosives to sow widespread panic among the populace.
Confirming the arrest, Md Salauddin, Additional Superintendent of Police for Manikganj Sadar Circle, stated that the detained suspect will be produced before the court following the completion of standard legal procedures, while operations continue to apprehend the remaining fugitives.
