DHAKA, 18 August 2005 — A series of over 350 small bombs exploded across Bangladesh yesterday within an hour of each other, killing two people and injuring more than 100 in an unprecedented attack initially linked to banned Islamic extremists. The bombs, which killed a man and a 10-year-old boy, exploded in all but a few of the country’s 64 towns and cities between 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m., the Home Ministry said in a statement.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia condemned the attacks as “cowardly”. Khaleda reportedly said the terrorists’ “evil design” was to create panic and destabilize the country, adding that they were enemies of democracy.
Police are probing the possible involvement of an extremist group which was banned by the government in February, after leaflets calling for the implementation of strict Islamic laws were found at the blast scenes.
“At all the blast scenes, leaflets bearing the name of the recently banned Jamatul Mujahedeen group were found,” the Home Ministry statement said.
The explosions, including 15 in Dhaka and 20 in the southeastern port of Chittagong, targeted local administrative offices, courts, and bus and railway stations.
“A total of 45 suspects have been arrested, about 350 bombs exploded and the number of injured stands at more than 100,” said Foreign Ministry Director Zahirul Haque.
The Home Ministry appealed for calm. “After analyzing all the incidents it is assumed that the main aim of the explosions was to create panic and a destabilized situation in the country,” the statement said.
Abdul Kaiyum, Bangladesh’s Inspector General of Police, told reporters: “These were small, homemade bombs designed to create panic.” Home Minister Lutfuzzaman Babar said security had been stepped up across the country. Most of those hurt suffered minor injuries, police said, adding that they had no reports of any serious or life-threatening injuries.
Mazeedul Haq, Chittagong’s police commissioner, said the leaflets bore the name of the Jamatul Mujahedeen and read: “It is time to implement Islamic law in Bangladesh. There is no future with man-made law.”
Jamatul Mujahedeen and another hard-line group, Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh, were banned in February for their alleged links to a wave of bombings of non-governmental groups, religious shrines and other targets. A police official in the large southern town of Barisal said leaflets had been found there reading: “Bush and Blair, be warned and get out of Muslim countries. Your days of ruling Muslim countries are over.”
