Two men have been killed and three others injured in a powerful explosion in Chapainawabganj district, with sharply conflicting accounts emerging over the cause of the incident.
The blast occurred at dawn on Saturday at the home of one Kalam Ali in Fatapara village, under Charbagdanga ইউনিয়ন in Chapainawabganj. Police officials have stated that the explosion took place while improvised explosive devices were being manufactured inside the property. However, the family of one of the injured men insist that he had gone to attend a picnic and was caught in a bomb attack.
Table of Contents
Police Account
Mohammad Shahjahan, Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Rajshahi Range, told reporters that there was no evidence of a picnic taking place at the house. According to him, the force of the blast was consistent with an accidental detonation during bomb-making activities.
“The brick wall of the tin-roofed house collapsed and sheets of corrugated metal were hurled some distance away,” he said. “Such a powerful explosion typically occurs during the preparation of explosive devices.”
Police and members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered two bodies from inside the house and transported the injured to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) are currently collecting forensic evidence, and the homeowner remains untraceable.
Victims and Casualties
The deceased have been identified as Md Jihad and Al-Amin, both from Ranihati in Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila. The injured are Md Shuvo (22) of Ghorastand village, Minhaz Uddin (30) of Charbagdanga, and Bazlur Rahman (20).
Hospital spokesperson Dr Shankar Kumar Biswas confirmed that all three injured men suffered facial burns but are in stable condition. They are being treated under police guard in three separate wards.
| Name | Age | Residence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Md Jihad | — | Ranihati, Sadar | নিহত |
| Al-Amin | — | Ranihati, Sadar | নিহত |
| Md Shuvo | 22 | Ghorastand, Sadar | Injured |
| Minhaz Uddin | 30 | Charbagdanga | Injured |
| Bazlur Rahman | 20 | Not specified | Injured |
Family’s Claim
Shuvo’s mother, Fauzia Khatun, told journalists that her son works as a tractor driver and construction labourer. She said he left home around 10 p.m. on Friday after receiving repeated phone calls inviting him to a picnic, despite initially feeling unwell. She maintains that her son was injured in a bomb attack at the gathering and denies any involvement in bomb-making.
Local Allegations and Political Reactions
Some residents allege that the area has long been associated with the clandestine manufacture of crude bombs, commonly referred to as “cocktails”, often commissioned by political actors. These claims remain unverified.
Later in the day, Harunur Rashid, a recently defeated BNP candidate and former Member of Parliament for Chapainawabganj Sadar, visited the site. He alleged that rival political groups were collaborating to produce explosives for acts of political violence. Representatives linked to other political organisations were also present at the scene.
Authorities have stated that the exact cause of the explosion will be determined following forensic analysis. Meanwhile, heightened security measures have been introduced in the locality, amid growing public anxiety over the incident and its possible implications.