Police say the accused were shown arrested in a case under the Explosives Act and subsequently sent to jail.
Representational image. Photo: Pixabay
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Representational image. Photo: Pixabay
Police have arrested 17 leaders and activists of the banned Awami League over crude bomb explosions at two court premises in Jashore, following special raids across eight upazilas over the past two days.
The arrests were made on Friday and Saturday (13–14 November). The accused were shown arrested in a case filed under the Explosives Act and subsequently sent to jail by a court.
Earlier, on the night of 12 November, Sub-Inspector Raisul Islam of Kotwali Police Station filed the case, naming 21 people and several unidentified others as accused.
According to the first information report (FIR), SI Raisul Islam was on duty with other police personnel in front of Jashore Railway Station around 8:50pm on Thursday when he received information about crude bomb explosions at two court locations.
One blast occurred in front of the Assistant Judge Court gate, southeast of the District and Sessions Judge Court, while another took place behind the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court building.
Police reached the Assistant Judge Court gate around 9pm and recovered fragments of an exploded tin container and two pieces of black adhesive tape.
The FIR also stated that around 8:35pm, a crude bomb-like object was thrown from Paris Road towards the rear of the court building. It landed inside the premises, near the right side of the rear entrance, and exploded with a loud bang.
Police subsequently recovered six ball bearings, two pieces of black adhesive tape and two fragments of an exploded tin container from the area.
Following the explosions, police launched special operations in Jashore town and different upazilas to identify and apprehend those responsible.
According to police, eight people were detained during operations on Friday. They were identified as Awami League leader Moniruzzaman Lablu of Sujalpur village in Jashore Sadar; Lavlu of Bhagabatipur in Narendrapur Union; Kazi Bakerul Islam Iran of Chanchra Raypara; Arman Hossain Rizvi of Dharmatala; Dalim Hossain of the area behind Bakchar EL Market; Abdul Alim Gazi; Shariful Islam; and Sanowar Hossain.
Another eight people were detained during operations in Jashore Sadar and Jhikargachha on Saturday. They are Hridoy Islam of Shashtitala; former district Awami League member Kazi Alamgir Hossain; Jhikargachha upazila Awami League General Secretary Musa Mahmud; Awami League member Shahiduzzaman Selim; Khairuzzaman Bappy of Chanchra Raypara; former Chanchra Union Jubo League General Secretary Badsha Faisal; Azizul Islam of Kholadanga; and Sohel Rana of Talbaria village.
Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kabir Hossain confirmed that 17 people had been arrested over the explosions during the two-day operation.
He claimed that all the arrestees were active members of the banned Awami League and alleged that they were involved in subversive activities aimed at undermining law and order and destabilising Jashore.
Police operations are continuing to arrest others allegedly involved in the incidents, he added.
Other explosions and threats
The explosions at the court premises were part of a series of incidents reported across Jashore town on Thursday night.
Crude bombs also exploded in front of the July Memorial Monument in the Bakultala area. Two devices reportedly went off with loud bangs in front of the old court building on Mujib Road between 8:15pm and 8:30pm.
Explosions were also reported inside the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court premises and near the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office.
Eyewitnesses said several people arrived on motorcycles, hurled the bombs and fled. The explosions caused loud noises and smoke, but no casualties were reported.
On Friday morning, police recovered two unexploded crude bomb-object and a handwritten note threatening to kill Shimul Hossain, education affairs secretary of Churamonkati Union BNP, from his house in Chhatiantala village in Jashore Sadar.
The incidents triggered panic across the town and its outskirts, prompting police to step up patrols and deploy additional personnel at key locations.
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