Law enforcers in Khulna recovered 18 crude bombs from the gate of a Hindu temple in the city on Thursday evening.
The live bombs, wrapped in black tape, were found at around 5:30pm and safely recovered by a Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) at around 7pm, according to Rapid Action Battalion 6 (RAB) Director Lt Col Mostak Ahmed.
The bombs were later neutralized by the BDU in a safe environment, he said.
The incident took place at the main gate of Rupsa Maha Shashan, which also houses a Kali temple, on the penultimate day of the Durga Puja – the biggest religious festival of the Hindus.
Law enforcers later set up a checkpost at the scene and additional police personnel were deployed to beef up security in the area.
Lt Col Ahmed said a RAB 6 team was sent to check the entry point of the Shashan or crematorium after their intelligence team was tipped off about the bombs.
During a search, the team found 16 of the bombs in a shopping bag and the other two on the ground. The team then cordoned off the area and notified the BDU, he said.
Priest Suresh Chakrabarty said he was returning from another temple when he saw RAB officials at the gate of the crematorium and was told about the recovery of the bombs.
Afterwards, the entry of the devotees to the temple was stopped until the BDU arrived at the scene and recovered the bombs.
“There is no need to panic. Some miscreants tried to spread fear among the people by doing this. We are working on finding them and bringing them to book,” said Lt Col Ahmed.
The incident, however, has taken place at a time when tension among the Hindus across the country is running high amid the Durga Puja festivities, after several people were killed and many injured in multiple districts during clashes sparked by rumours of the desecration of the Holy Quran at a temple in Comilla on Wednesday.