Municipality polls: Case filed over bomb blast targeting independent mayor candidate in Shariatpur

A case has been filed over explosion of crude bombs targeting the car of independent mayor candidate Abul Bashar Chokdar in Bhedarganj municipality in Shariatpur last night.

Mithun Kumar Mandal, sub-inspector of Bhedarganj Police Station, filed the case against some 150 to 200 unidentified people under the Explosive Substances Act today, ABM Rashidul Bari, officer-in-charge of the police station, told The Daily Star.

Police arrested five people in connection with the case, the OC added.

The arrestees were sent to jail by a district court this evening, the court sources said.

Quoting witnesses, OC ABM Rashidul Bari further said miscreants blasted some crude bombs near the home of AL mayor candidate Abdul Mannan Howladar around 10:15pm, targeting the car which was carrying the independent mayor candidate Abul Bashar Chokdar.

Meanwhile, mayor candidate Abdul Mannan Howladar and independent mayor candidate Abul Bashar Chokdar blamed each other over the bomb blast.

Later, a clash took place between the supporters of two mayor candidates, leaving at least nine people injured.

The municipality polls will be held at nine centres on January 30 where 8,135 voters will cast their votes.