Dhaka (Bangladesh): A man was killed after a crude bomb was hurled from a flyover in Dhaka’s Moghbazar Wireless Gate area on Wednesday evening, intensifying concerns over security as political tensions continue to rise in Bangladesh.
According to local media reports, the explosion occurred at around 7 pm when unidentified miscreants threw a locally made explosive device from the flyover onto the road below. The victim, identified as Saiful, sustained severe injuries in the blast and died on the spot.
The incident comes at a sensitive moment for the country, which has been witnessing unrest following the killing of a prominent student leader last week. Authorities said investigations are underway to determine the motive behind the attack and to identify those responsible.
The blast also occurred just ahead of the expected return of Tarique Rahman, Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Rahman is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on Thursday, ending nearly 17 years of exile in London, according to party officials.
The 60-year-old BNP leader has emerged as a key political figure and is widely seen as a strong contender in the general elections scheduled for February. His return has prompted heightened political activity across the country.
In response, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has ordered extensive security arrangements across Dhaka and other sensitive areas. Meanwhile, the BNP has announced plans to mobilise a massive crowd of supporters to welcome Rahman, projecting his return as a show of political strength.
Bangladesh has been on edge following the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a senior student leader and a prominent face of the 2024 uprising. Hadi was shot by masked assailants on December 12 while leaving a mosque in Dhaka and later succumbed to his injuries during treatment in Singapore.
Protests have erupted in the capital over Hadi’s death, including a rally held at Shahbagh earlier this week, further adding to the tense atmosphere. Security agencies remain on alert as investigations into both incidents continue.
