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The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have intensified security across the capital, setting up more than 200 checkpoints following a series of cocktail explosions and a bus fire at several locations on Friday night.
Fourteen cocktail blasts were reported at seven locations between Friday afternoon and 11pm, while a bus was set on fire in front of Kafrul Police Station.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division Niaz Mehedi confirmed the heightened security measures on Saturday.
“We have taken adequate security preparations,” he said, adding that cases had been filed over several incidents while others were still being processed. A case has been filed over the bus fire at Kafrul Police Station.
Police have deployed checkpoints at more than 200 locations, including major intersections, flyovers and entry and exit points of the capital, Niaz said.
“We are conducting searches at more than 200 checkpoints and strengthening overall security,” he said.
He added that motorcycles would be subject to particular scrutiny to prevent the use of illegal or suspicious bikes in sabotage or other criminal activities.
The additional measures will continue alongside regular checkpoints and patrols, he said.
The cocktail blasts were reported in Malibagh, Agargaon, Mohakhali, Jatrabari, Babubazar, in front of the Bangladesh Television (BTV) building and at Moghbazar intersection.
Separately, police detained 23 people from a mosque in Tejgaon’s Farmgate area on Friday over suspected links to the banned militant organisation Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).
Police said the detentions were based on intelligence information.
