3 hurt in crude bomb blasts at BNP rally in Rajshahi

Three crude bombs exploded during a rally of BNP’s student front Chhatra Dal in Rajshahi city today leaving three people, including a journalist, injured.

The injured were identified as Habibur Rahman, an advisor to Khaleda Zia, Aditto Chowdhury, a journalist at private TV channel Banglavision, and a blacksmith Sapan Kumar Das, reports our local staff correspondent.

Read more: Law and order situation normal in Rajshahi: EC Shahadat

Iftekhayer Alam, assistant commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP), acknowledged the blasts but refused to give any details before gaining further insight.

Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, a former minister of BNP, told The Daily Star that four to five masked men, riding two motorcycles, exploded the bombs during the rally at Sagarpara area around 11:00am.

The spot where one of the bombs exploded. Photo: Collected

The injured have been taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), he said.

Later, police got hold of a video footage of the incident and are now analysing it, Amanullah, officer-in-charge of Boalia Police Station, told our staff correspondent.

Meanwhile, Awami League and BNP leaders have blamed each other for the incident.

“Awami League wants to deter BNP from the polls by instilling fear among our supporters,” Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu told reporters.

On the other hand, Awami League nominated mayoral candidate AHM Khairuzzaman Liton blamed Dulu for “carrying out such attacks under instruction from Tarique Rahman.”