Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has condemned the explosion at a National Citizen Party (NCP) rally in Savar's Tarapur Eidgah field, demanding the immediate arrest and punishment of those responsible. The party also alleged that members of the administration were involved in the attack.
The allegation was made in a statement issued on Monday by Jamaat Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar.
In the statement, Parwar said several NCP leaders and activists were injured in the attack, with four of them in critical condition receiving treatment at the hospital.
"I strongly condemn and protest this terrorist attack. I also wish the injured a speedy recovery and express my sympathy to them," he said.
Parwar said the attack on a peaceful political programme reflected a serious deterioration in the country's law and order situation.
"The sudden power outage at the beginning of the rally, followed by the explosion of a cocktail bomb in front of the stage, cannot be considered an ordinary incident," he said.
He alleged that the local administration had failed to provide adequate security despite the presence of the opposition chief whip at the rally.
"The power outage raises serious questions. The public believes the attackers were able to carry out the incident with the connivance of the administration," he claimed.
Parwar said respect for differing political views and ensuring peaceful coexistence among all political parties were essential to building a democratic and discrimination-free Bangladesh.
"Violence, bomb attacks and murder plots have no place in politics. Those who resorted to such politics in the past did not meet a good end," he added.
He called for a fair and impartial investigation into the incident, urging authorities to identify those responsible for the power outage, investigate the allegations of administrative involvement, arrest the perpetrators and ensure exemplary punishment.
Parwar also urged the government to take a firm role in maintaining political stability and ensuring the safety of people's lives and property.