Comilla, 11 February — A large quantity of suspected homemade explosive materials and equipment has been recovered from a fishery project owned by a local Jamaat leader in Nangalkot Upazila, raising fresh concerns over law and order as well as local political tensions.
The seizure occurred on Wednesday afternoon near the Al Basharat Fishery Project, adjacent to Moguya Government Primary School in Peria Union, during a joint operation conducted by law enforcement agencies. Authorities discovered items believed to be used in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices, commonly referred to as “country-made cocktails” or pipe bombs.
According to initial police reports, the confiscated items included sulphur, moizal (suspected domestic explosive component), fuel papers, selection stones, more than 200 empty gourd shells, and over 100 GI pipes. While these materials are preliminarily thought to be intended for explosive device production, forensic examination by experts is required to confirm their intended use.
The fishery project is reportedly owned by Saiful Islam Mamun, president of the youth wing of the local Union Jamaat. Neighbouring residents told reporters that suspicious activity had been ongoing at the project for several days, with frequent deliveries of bags of unknown contents. On Wednesday, witnesses observed a microbus dropping off several bags, after which a group of individuals quickly left the premises. Alarmed by these activities, locals entered an abandoned building on the project site and discovered a substantial stockpile of suspicious materials, which they promptly reported to the police.
A brief summary of the seized items is as follows:
| Serial | Seized Item | Approximate Quantity | Probable Use (Preliminary) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sulphur | Significant | Component in explosive mixtures |
| 2 | Moizal | Unknown | Suspected ingredient for homemade bombs |
| 3 | Fuel Paper | Multiple bundles | Ignition or detonation activation |
| 4 | Selection Stones | Several bags | Possible use in friction or spark creation |
| 5 | Empty Gourd Shells | Over 200 | Potential casings for explosive devices |
| 6 | GI Pipes | Over 100 | Could be used to fabricate pipe bombs |
Meanwhile, local Jamaat leader Maulana Noman has described the incident as a politically motivated conspiracy. He alleged that the operation was orchestrated to undermine the upcoming elections and tarnish Mamun’s reputation, accusing a former Union Parishad member of instigating the plot.
Nangalkot police officer-in-charge, Arifur Rahman, confirmed that the joint team recovered the materials promptly following the tip-off. He stressed that the true nature and purpose of the items would only be established after expert examination. No arrests have been made so far, though investigations are ongoing.
Analysts suggest that the recovery of potentially explosive materials near a polling station could heighten election-related security concerns. Observers emphasise that a transparent and impartial investigation will be crucial in uncovering the full circumstances surrounding the discovery.