Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh — A tragic explosion in a residential area early Saturday resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left three others critically injured while they were allegedly in the process of constructing crude bombs. The incident occurred in Fatapara village at a house tied to a family member in Charbagdanga union.
As of Saturday evening, authorities had not identified the deceased due to extensive facial burns from the blast. Those injured have been named as 22-year-old Md Shuvo from Ghorastand village, 30-year-old Minhaj Uddin from Charbagdanga, and 19-year-old Bazlur Rahman. All three are receiving treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where their condition has stabilized, according to Dr. Shankar Kumar Biswas, the hospital’s spokesperson.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene following the explosion, which rattled the neighborhood around dawn. Family members reportedly rushed to rescue Bazlur, who was trapped under debris. His elder brother recounted the moment they discovered him injured amidst the wreckage. The house’s owner, Kalam Ali, has since gone missing.
The circumstances are still under investigation, with police speculating that the explosion occurred while the victims were assembling improvised explosive devices. The force of the blast damaged the structure, collapsing sections of the brick walls and blowing off the tin roof.
Mohammad Shahjahan, deputy inspector general of Rajshahi Range police, stated that evidence from the scene is being analyzed. He emphasized the need for a thorough inquiry, noting no immediate signs of political involvement related to the incident, though the police are remaining vigilant.
Family members expressed their shock and distress. Shuvo’s mother revealed that her son had initially declined invitations to a party, citing illness, but eventually went after persistent encouragement from friends. She learned of the explosion when he was brought to the hospital.
In light of the incident, local police confirmed they are pursuing a case and are actively gathering information, while residents have offered two potential names for the deceased. Police have yet to confirm these identities as they work to piece together details surrounding the tragic event.
Harun-ur-Rashid, a defeated candidate backed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in recent elections, alleged that the incident may be connected to members of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami collaborating with factions of the Awami League. He suggested that the explosion was a premature detonation aimed at targeting party supporters.
Previous investigations in Chapainawabganj had uncovered substantial quantities of crude bombs and materials for making explosives, raising concerns about potential violence in the lead-up to Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections in February. Law enforcement has committed to taking further measures to prevent any such incidents in the future.