Throughout the anti-government movement, the BNP and its alliances have struggled to gain widespread public support for their movement. Instead, their political actions have been characterized by the deliberate destruction of buses and the undermining of people’s well-being. This tactic seems designed to instill fear within the population rather than garnering genuine support.
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According to official reports from the Fire Service and Civil Defence, a disturbing total of 197 vehicles and installations have been torched nationwide betweenOctober 28 and November 20. These incidents occurred during hartals and nationwide blockades orchestrated by the BNP-Jamaat coalition and their like-minded political parties. Notably, the majority of these attacks, totaling 132, were concentrated in the Dhaka division, with 95 specifically targeting the capital city.
On November 20, the Rapid Action Battalion apprehended four individuals associated with the Jubo Dal, on charges of setting a bus ablaze in the Kalshi area of Mirpur. Concurrently, the Uttara Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan (DB) Detective Police arrested three miscreants involved in torching a Mirpur Super Link Limited bus on November 4. These incidents underscore the increasingly alarming trend of destructive actions within the anti-government movement, particularly targeting public transportation infrastructure.
Miscreants Were ‘paid’ To Torch Bus
Startling revelations emerged during the interrogation of apprehended miscreants, indicating that BNP leaders allegedly orchestrated and funded a series of bus-torching incidents. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officially confirmed this connection during a press conference held at the RAB Media Center in Kawran Bazar.
According to the elite force, the individuals in custody admitted to committing acts of arson and vandalism for financial gain, following directives from leaders affiliated with the BNP. Commander Khandaker Al Moin, the director of RAB’s Law and Media wing, disclosed that after carrying out the bus torching, the perpetrators distributed the payout among their group members. Despite an agreed-upon sum of Tk 20,000 for their actions, they only received Tk 7,000.
Commander Al Moinprovided details of a specific incident when a BasumatiParibahan bus was set ablaze by the arrestees on Kalshi roadaround 11:30 pmon November 18. Notably, the four suspects are linked to the local Jubo Dal, although they do not hold official positions in the BNP’s youth wing.
The investigative findings revealed that individuals named Chan, Sagar, and Rubel actively scouted for vehicles to torch in areas such as Mirpur-11, TaltalaNavana, Kalshi Road, and Ceramic Road during the night. These details were corroborated by confessions obtained from miscreants arrested by the Detective Branch (DB).
No Evidence, No Payment
In a disturbing twist to the bus-torching incidents, miscreants were reportedly asked to capture videos of their destructive acts while setting vehicles ablaze. The explicit directive stipulated that unless they could furnish proof of their actions, they would not receive the promised monetary compensation. During a press conference, RAB official Al Moin shed light on this sinister practice, revealing, “Arrested individual Khorshed was specifically instructed to send videos of the incident, ensuring that no other party members could claim credit by merely taking pictures of the arson attack and forwarding them to higher-ups.”
The RAB further disclosed that Chan, one of the apprehended individuals, has a history of involvement in multiple drug-related cases at Pallabi Police Station. Chan allegedly recorded videos of himself participating in acts of sabotage and violence, a calculated move aimed at bolstering his standing within the party.
Additional Commissioner of Police Mohammad Haroon Or Rashid disclosed that ‘Tanveer’ among the detainees admitted to the practice of sending videos to senior leaders after committing arson. Notably, both photos and videos were reportedly dispatched to senior leaders located in London and Dhaka.
Grassroots Activists Not Happy With Their Leaders
Despite diligently adhering to the directives of senior leaders, grassroots activists express dissatisfaction with the course of action dictated by their leadership, as evident in their candid conversations on various social media platforms.
One revealing instance unfolded after the arson incident involving Tanveer, a miscreant subsequently apprehended by the Detective Branch (DB). Tanveer, in a conversation on Facebook Messenger with a friend, openly questioned the efficacy of their actions, stating, ‘What will happen by setting fire? We are on fire, and those in London are fine. We are caught backfiring.’ During subsequent questioning by the DB, Tanveer admitted to the authenticity of this conversation.
Tanveer further revealed to the DB that despite their active engagement in arson and the hurling of cocktails, there is an acute sense of isolation when incarcerated. He lamented, ‘Those issuing orders are hiding somewhere or staying abroad. There’s no one to see us in jail.’
Acknowledging Tanveer’s remand, the DB chief affirmed, ‘I have obtained the names and numbers of many individuals, and it will be ascertained who else was involved alongside Tanveer.’
