Blast at Ctg mosque

Two cocktails exploded at a mosque inside Bangladesh Navy's Issa Khan base in Chittagong after Juma prayers yesterday, causing minor injuries to five to six people, said Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate.

The injured were released after being given first aid.

One person was detained immediately with some unexploded explosive devices in connection with the incident, and necessary interrogation and investigation were going on, said an ISPR release issued by Research Officer Muhammad Shahadat Hossain on behalf of the director.

The statement mentions that devotees from outside too come to offer prayers at the mosque.

Meanwhile, BBC Bangla reported that grenades were used in the attack, which left at least six injured, one critically.

The mosque is within a restricted area where general people have no access; only those living in the base go to that mosque.

Quoting Harun-ur-Rashid Hazari, a police official in Chittagong, BBC said the attacks were made soon after the prayers began.

“Two grenades were hurled as soon as the recitation of Surah Fatiha was completed,” Hazari said.

Police said they came to know that around 200 devotees were offering prayers at that time.

One Mizan, a batman of Bangladesh Navy, was detained. Police said when he attempted to hurl the third grenade, devotees captured and handed him over to the police, according to the BBC report.

Harun-ur-Rashid Hazari also said they think the attack was carried out to create panic among the people and destabilise the situation.

Following the blasts, the mosque was sealed off temporarily.

Police said the detainee is a textile engineer and joined the navy submitting fake certificate, the BBC reported.

The one critically injured was taken to the Combined Military Hospital in Chittagong in a helicopter, it adds.