The explosions occurred at several locations across the university campus on Sunday evening (8 November). The three men were subsequently detained on suspicion of involvement in the incidents.
According to information obtained about the detainees, Rezaul Karim is from Bilkathor Madhyapara village in Gurudaspur Upazila of Natore district. His father’s name was the late Kofiruddin Pramanik. He currently lives in the Fakirapul area of Dhaka.
Sohel Rana’s permanent address is Khutipara village, near Baneshwar Bazar in Puthia Upazila of Rajshahi district. His father’s name is Md Idris Ali. The third detainee, Nazmus Sad, is the son of Nizam-ul Haque and comes from Kochapara village in Kotalipara Upazila of Gopalganj district.
According to eyewitness accounts, the first two explosions occurred in quick succession near the university’s Teacher-Student Centre (TSC). Further blasts were subsequently reported at several other locations, including beside the university’s administrative building, the Vice-Chancellor’s Chattar, in front of the Mukti O Ganatantra Toron near Nilkhet, and at Shahbagh intersection.
Reports indicate that one explosion took place in the Nilkhet area, another in front of the Senate Building, two at the TSC and one at Shahbagh intersection. The repeated blasts across different parts of the campus caused concern among students and people in the surrounding areas.
Eyewitnesses said two individuals attempted to flee after setting off a cocktail at the TSC. They tried to escape through an area adjacent to the metro rail station but were intercepted and detained by people present at the scene.
The incidents prompted a political reaction from the university’s student organisations. Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas, president of Dhaka University Chhatra Dal, alleged that Chhatra League and the Awami League were responsible for such activities. He said Chhatra Dal would announce programmes to resist what he described as attempts to create instability.
He also said the organisation would remain vocal in ensuring that ordinary people could go about their daily lives without fear or disruption.
University Proctor Professor Md Israfil Prang confirmed that explosions had been reported at several locations across the campus. He said two people were detained from the TSC area, while another was apprehended near Jagannath Hall.
The proctor added that nobody had sustained serious injuries in the incidents. University authorities are reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from different parts of the campus to establish what happened and identify those involved.
The investigation is expected to focus on the sequence of explosions, the movements of the suspects and whether the incidents were coordinated. The use of CCTV footage could help investigators establish how the devices were detonated and how those responsible attempted to leave the area.
The incident has once again raised concerns about security arrangements at Dhaka University, particularly around busy locations such as the TSC, Shahbagh and the Vice-Chancellor’s Chattar. These areas regularly see significant movement of students, university staff and members of the public.
Although no serious injuries were reported, multiple explosions in different parts of one of the country’s leading educational institutions have heightened concerns about campus safety. The identities of the three detainees have now been established, but their alleged involvement and the motive behind the explosions remain matters for investigation.
