Dhaka Falls Silent as Awami League’s ‘Lockdown’ Brings Tight Security and Empty Streets

On Thursday (November 13), silence and emptiness were observed in the capital Dhaka and across several parts of the country surrounding the “Dhaka Lockdown” program called by the Awami League. On Wednesday, there was reduced traffic pressure on the roads, limited attendance in offices, courts, and educational institutions, while law enforcement agencies remained on high alert everywhere.

Although fears of violence had persisted in Bangladesh under the interim government for the past several days, the administration reported that the situation remained comparatively peaceful. However, on Tuesday and Wednesday, several incidents of arson and cocktail explosions occurred in Dhaka and other districts, creating panic among the public.

Several cases of bus arson and cocktail explosions took place in Dhaka and across different districts of the country. On Tuesday, a driver was killed when a stationary bus caught fire in Mymensingh. Similar acts of sabotage were also reported in Gazipur, Ashulia, Feni, and even in Dhaka’s Kakrail, Shahbagh, Tejgaon, and TSC areas. Police and fire service officials said that most of these incidents could have been planned acts of sabotage.

According to Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DB) sources, at least 44 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations have been arrested over the past three days in Dhaka and surrounding areas. Law enforcement stated that investigations are ongoing to identify those involved in these incidents.

Stillness Descends on Dhaka

From Tuesday night, the number of people on Dhaka’s streets began to decline. On Wednesday morning, visits to Shahbagh, Mirpur, Farmgate, Dhanmondi, Karwan Bazar, and Hatirjheel revealed that while public transport was operating, the number of private vehicles was very low. Many offices had altered working hours, and several private institutions instructed their employees to work from home.

Due to police checkpoints and searches, vehicle movement at key intersections in the capital was slow. Motorcycles, rickshaws, and CNG-run auto-rickshaws were still moving, though significantly fewer than on regular days. Similar scenes were reported in Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Feni districts.

Joint patrols by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and police were visible in every major area of Dhaka. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjat Ali told reporters, “Adequate measures have been taken to ensure the overall security of the capital. No chaos will be allowed anywhere.”

Lockdown Largely Successful

The November 13 lockdown program appeared to be proceeding successfully. Awami League leaders stated that the program symbolized peaceful resistance surrounding the verdict of the crimes against humanity case filed against Sheikh Hasina.

A central leader of the party said, “Our goal was to express the people's stance on the future of democracy in the country peacefully. People are spontaneously supporting this program by staying indoors. This proves that the Awami League remains deeply rooted among the people.”

From Wednesday morning, public presence on Dhaka’s streets was nearly nonexistent. Busy commercial areas such as Motijheel, New Market, Farmgate, and Gulshan saw mostly closed shops. The government also maintained a firm stance to keep the situation under control.

Citizens’ Concerns and Administrative Vigilance

The arson incidents have caused widespread fear among the public. Many schools, colleges, and universities announced plans to conduct online classes on Thursday, and several examinations were postponed.

A schoolteacher from Mohammadpur said, “We are currently conducting online classes to ensure the safety of students. We hope the situation returns to normal soon.”

Members of the law enforcement agencies stated that those involved in acts of sabotage would face strict action. Checkpoints were set up at various intersections across Dhaka, and search operations were carried out. BGB spokesperson Shariful Islam stated, “A total of 14 platoons of BGB members have been deployed in Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Gazipur districts, and they will remain on duty until further notice.”

Political analysts and crime experts noted that recent incidents of arson and explosions have heightened public anxiety and raised concerns about how long the overall law and order situation will remain under control.

Though the November 13 lockdown program has brought Dhaka to a standstill, the Awami League, by its claim, has so far managed to demonstrate a “peaceful resistance.” However, maintaining national stability and ensuring public safety remain the greatest challenges ahead.