Dhaka Division (Islamist Terrorism): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2022

Terming the ruling Awami League (AL) as a 'terrorist political party,' Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on January 2 said the party in power has a lengthy history of terrorist activities, reports Observer. He made the remarks while addressing a press conference at the BNP Chairperson's political office at Gulshan in the capital Dhaka city. Fakhrul said "Basically, Awami League is a terrorist political party. The party could not survive without resorting to terrorism since it was born. Awami League enforced hartals as many as 173 days to realise its demand of caretaker government. They had burned a bus in front of Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka with gun powder which left 11 people dead. It's nothing new for Awami League. They started their terrorist activities beating the then deputy speaker Shahed Ali to death inside the assembly during the erstwhile Pakistan. Since then, they have adopted terrorism as their main weapon." Read less...

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on January 5 observed the eighth anniversary of the 10th parliamentary election day — January 5, 2014 — as ‘democracy killing day’ across the country amid police obstruction, reports New Age. In Dhaka city, addressing a human chain in front of the National Press Club, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said “On this day [January 5, 2014], the illegitimate government of Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, killed democracy. A deceptive and farcical election was held on that day to completely depoliticise Bangladesh and to remove it from the list of fully democratic countries.” Read less...

Dhaka Special Tribunal on January 10 sentenced 10 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to jail for five years in a case filed over cocktail explosion during a hartal in Dhaka city's Bhashantek Police Station area in 2013, reports Observer. The jailed persons are: Sumon Chandra, Jasim, Aminul, Sohel, Kawsar, Jewel, Abdur Rahman, Shaheed, Mohsin and Liton. They were also fined BDT 5,000 each. In default, they will have to suffer three months more in jail. According to the prosecution, the accused exploded cocktails at Bhashantek intersection on November 26, 2013, during hartal-blockade called by BNP-led 18-party alliance. Later, Bhashantek Police Station sub-inspector Zahidul Islam lodged a case under the Explosive Substances Act. Read less...

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud talking to journalists after placing wreaths at the portrait of the country's founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka city on January 10 said that the anti-Liberation forces were still active in Bangladesh and they need to be eliminated, reports New Age. He said “Today is the 50th anniversary of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s homecoming. Though we achieved independence on December 16, 1971, the joy of the final victory of the Liberation War was fulfilled after the arrival of the Great Leader on January 10 in 1972. But the anti-liberation forces are hatching conspiracies till now. Jamaat and their collaborators who were against the independence are still with BNP and they are plotting against the sovereignty, development and progress of the country. So, it is needed to exterminate the evil forces.” Read less...

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud speaking to reporters at his Minto Road residence in Dhaka city on January 14 said that the Human Rights Watch (HRW)’s latest statement on Bangladesh as one-sided, unacceptable and politically motivated, reports Dhaka Tribune. He said “After reading this, it seems that someone from Bangladesh might have drafted it and they (HRW) only published it after retouching, nothing else. The existence of these types of organizations is good. But if the organization uses itself or gives statements for serving the interests of individuals and for political purposes by taking information from individuals of different countries, it makes the organization questionable. I saw the statement of Human Rights Watch. It is not realistic by any means, rather it is one-sided and politically motivated.” Read less...