Bomb-like device recovered outside Ashulia tea stall

A pressure cooker-shaped suspected explosive device was recovered from outside a tea stall in Ashulia, on the outskirts of Dhaka, before being safely neutralised in a controlled explosion by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Bomb Disposal Unit.

The device was defused on Friday morning (July 31), hours after local residents spotted a suspicious abandoned bag in front of Joyi General Store, a tea stall owned by Hriday Chakma in the Khejur Bagan area.

According to police, the bag had been lying unattended since around 11:00pm on Thursday. When locals became suspicious and inspected it, they discovered a pressure cooker-shaped object resembling an improvised explosive device (IED) and immediately alerted law enforcement.

Police from Ashulia Police Station quickly reached the scene, cordoned off the area and, suspecting the object could contain explosives, sought assistance from the DMP Bomb Disposal Unit.

Bomb disposal specialists later recovered the device and transported it to an open area near United Garments on Bangabandhu Road in Ashulia Union, where it was rendered safe through a controlled detonation under strict security measures.

The incident triggered concern among residents, who said prompt reporting of the suspicious bag helped avert a potentially serious incident.

Tarikul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ashulia Police Station, said, "Forensic examinations are underway to determine the nature of the recovered object."

"We are investigating who left the device there and what the motive was. Efforts are underway to identify those involved, while CCTV footage from surrounding areas is being collected and analysed as part of the investigation," he added.

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the recovered object was a functional explosive device, pending forensic examination.