Bangladesh has placed its capital under tight security ahead of Thursday’s “Dhaka Lockdown,” a citywide shutdown called by the banned Awami League party in defiance of government restrictions.
The government said it would show zero tolerance toward any attempt to incite unrest or block roads. Police, Border Guard Bangladesh and the Rapid Action Battalion have been deployed across the capital, and surveillance has been stepped up at all major entry points, including Gabtoli, Jatrabari, Abdullahpur and Tongi.
Checkpoints have been set up to screen incoming vehicles, and no public gatherings will be allowed at the city’s entrances. Border patrols were increased to stop the movement of arms and suspects from nearby districts.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh has placed all airports on high alert, tightening patrols and restricting public movement around terminals. Several English-medium schools switched to online classes over safety concerns.
The security measures come amid a series of crude bomb attacks and arson incidents in Dhaka and surrounding districts. In the past two days, at least 19 crude bombs have exploded and 11 vehicles have been torched. Two assailants on a motorcycle were seen throwing explosives near the International Crimes Tribunal office in Dhanmondi and the GPO in Gulistan on Tuesday night.
Authorities said the attacks were intended to create panic ahead of the Awami League’s planned lockdown, which officials describe as an attempt to destabilize the city. Police have arrested more than 550 people in recent weeks linked to subversive activity.
Home Adviser Lt. Gen. (ret.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said after a high-level meeting Wednesday that the situation was under control. “All agencies are on full alert. No criminals or instigators will be spared,” he said.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali urged residents to stay calm and report suspicious activity. “The city will remain safe. There is no cause for alarm,” he said.
The Dhaka Lockdown is expected to test both the government’s ability to maintain order and the opposition’s capacity to mobilize under pressure.