At least one person was killed and 70 others injured in yesterday’s crude bombs attacks and in separate clashes surrounding Independence Day programmes at five different districts.
Our Chapainawabganj correspondent reported that a crude bomb explosion killed a Jubo Dal activist and injured three others at a local Shaheed Minar in Shibganj upazila.
The deceased was 25-year-old Sujan Ali from Chaturpur village in Shibganj municipal area, while the three injured – Abul Bashar, 36, Nurul Islam, 40, and Toufique, 25 – are undergoing treatment at Shibganj upazila health complex.
Eyewitnesses said two powerful crude bombs exploded in quick succession when local leaders and activists of the Awami League and the BNP were placing wreaths at the local Shaheed Minar in the wee hours of the day. Sujan was critically injured as one of the bombs hit his body when it exploded.
“Sujan died while undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital at around 2am,” Ashiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Shibganj police station, told the Dhaka Tribune.
The OC said it might have been an act by a militant organisation, adding that raids were underway to arrest the culprits.
Meanwhile, following the news of the Jubo Dal activist’s death, BNP activists vandalised the office of Awami League’s Shibganj upazila unit and torched a motorcycle, blaming the ruling party activists for carrying out the bomb attack.
Shahjahan Mia, president of district unit BNP, also alleged that the police had also fired several rounds of bullets at the time of the incident, a claim which was denied by OC Ashiqur.
Elsewhere in Kurigram, five schoolgirls suffered injuries to their faces when unidentified miscreants blasted a crude bomb during an Independence Day programme at their school grounds in Fulbari upazila, reported our correspondent.
The victims are Ayesha Khatun, Johora Begum, Lucky Akter, Nisha Begum and Reshma Akter – all class-nine students of Fulbari Josimia High School. They are undergoing treatment at Fulbari upazila health complex.
Miscreants blasted the crude bomb when around 200 students of the school were performing a display of the national flag at a programme marking the Independence Day.
Our Sylhet Correspondent said at least 10 people, including four police personnel, were injured in clashes between Shibir activists and the police in front of Modonmohon college of Lamabazar area.
Mohammad Rohomotullah, deputy commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, said the clashes ensued after law enforcers stopped a procession by Islami Chhatra Shibir, brought out to mark the Independence Day. The Shibir activists hurled crude bombs at the police, who retaliated by firing 30 rounds of bullets, he added.
In Habiganj, at least 50 people were injured in a clash between rival groups of villagers at Baniyachong upazila, centring a sports event to mark the Independence Day, reported our correspondent.
Police sources said the Hiala High School in Mokrompur union organised the event; while the two-hour-long clash ensued after supporters of Hiala village resident Gedu Mia were denied participation in the games by school managing committee President Nur Mia.
Meanwhile, our Satkhira correspondent reported that at least six people were injured in a factional clash between two rival groups of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s Satkhira Government College unit, following disputes over attending an Independence Day programme.