Jubo League’s ‘Lockdown’: Dhaka Streets Empty as Public Transport Services Remain Limited

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka

Traffic and people movement on various roads in the capital have been comparatively low due to the ‘Dhaka Lockdown’ program announced by the Awami Jubo League. The presence of law enforcement agencies has been increased on important roads, intersections and entrances of Dhaka since Sunday (September 20) morning. Checkpoints have been set up at various places.

Traffic on some of the main roads in the capital was light in the morning compared to a normal working day. There was less public transport on many roads. It is also reported that a section of the city’s residents did not leave their homes unless necessary due to the security situation.

The capital has been tense for the past few days over the ‘Dhaka Lockdown’ program. There have been incidents of cocktail explosions, bus fires and flash mobs in various areas. Following these incidents, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has strengthened security in the capital.

Two passenger buses were set on fire in Mirpur area on Saturday night. A bus parked in Badda was also set on fire. Several cocktail explosions were reported in Jatrabari area on the same night. Cocktail explosions also took place under Secretariat Metrorail Station next to Kamalapur Railway Station and Shahbagh Police Station.

Following these incidents, members of the Detective Branch (DB), Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) and Armed Police Battalion (APBN) were seen performing their duties in various areas of the capital since Sunday morning. Vehicles are being searched on important roads, entrances and flyovers in the capital.

Surveillance has also been increased at various entry and exit points in Dhaka. Checkposts are being set up at important points to search suspicious vehicles and people.

Meanwhile, the police have claimed that Awami League leaders and activists are involved in the recent cocktail explosions and bus burning incidents in the capital. At a press conference at the DMP’s media center on Sunday, Deputy Commissioner of Wari Division of DB, Molla Md. Shaheen, presented the police’s statement on the matter. He also said that the police believe that the party’s top-level instructions are behind these incidents.

A series of incidents of vandalism ahead of the ‘Dhaka Lockdown’ program have raised concerns about the security situation in the capital. This has also affected the normal movement of the city. However, the same picture has not been seen in all areas of Dhaka. Although the movement of vehicles and people is normal in some places, a relatively empty situation has been seen in many places on important and busy roads.