Keraniganj Madrasa Blast Exposes Hidden Explosive Materials

A powerful explosion tore through a madrasa in the Hasnabad area of South Keraniganj, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on Friday morning, leaving four people injured, including a woman and two children, and causing extensive structural damage. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community and prompted a large-scale investigation by law enforcement and bomb disposal experts.

The blast occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. inside a single-storey building housing the Ummal Qura International Madrasa. According to police and eyewitness accounts, the explosion was strong enough to blow out the surrounding walls of two rooms on the western side of the building. Cracks appeared in the roof beams and adjoining rooms, raising concerns about the overall stability of the structure.

During an initial search of the premises, police recovered improvised explosive devices, chemical substances, and various tools believed to be used in bomb-making. A specialised bomb disposal unit and a crime scene investigation team were immediately deployed to determine the cause of the explosion and assess whether further risks remained.

The Officer-in-Charge of South Keraniganj Police Station, Saiful Alam, confirmed that operations at the site were ongoing. He stated that a General Diary had been filed and that authorities were treating the matter with utmost seriousness. “We have recovered cocktails, flammable materials, and bomb-making equipment. The investigation will establish how and why these items were stored inside a madrasa,” he said.

Local residents described scenes of panic following the blast. One eyewitness, who requested anonymity, recalled hearing a deafening noise before rushing outside to find debris scattered and walls reduced to rubble. Fortunately, the madrasa was closed at the time due to the weekly Friday holiday, and its usual 30 to 35 students were absent, preventing a potentially far greater tragedy.

Those injured in the incident include the madrasa’s director, Sheikh Al Amin (32), his wife Asia Begum (28), and their two sons, Umayet (10) and Abdullah (7). Asia Begum and the children were initially taken to a nearby hospital before being transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

It later emerged that while part of the building was used for educational purposes, one room served as the family’s living quarters, where they had resided for the past three years.

Neighbours also reported damage to adjacent buildings. Furniture inside nearby homes was broken, and walls cracked from the force of the explosion.

The building’s owner, Parvin Begum, expressed shock and disbelief. She stated that the madrasa had been rented out for three years and that she had no knowledge of any illicit activities being conducted under the guise of religious education.

As investigations continue, the incident has reignited concerns about the misuse of religious institutions and the urgent need for stricter oversight to ensure public safety.

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