Device found at Lalon Akhra identified as ‘time bomb’, sadhus and devotees leave the dham

Police have identified the suspicious device recovered from the venue of the 136th death anniversary programme of Fakir Lalon Shah at Cheuria in Kumarkhali of Kushtia as a ‘time bomb’. A bomb disposal expert team of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police defused the device on Monday morning. As panic spread over the incident, sadhus and devotees left the akhra premises.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kumarkhali Police Station Jamal Uddin informed that two bottles filled with petrol, an iron pipe and a suspicious device with electric wires were recovered from the akhra premises around 12:30am on Sunday night. The CTTC expert team went to the spot around 8am on Monday and identified it as a time bomb. Later it was defused.

The OC said that while on duty in the police control room at night a sadhu informed him of seeing an object like a cocktail. Getting the information police went to the spot and evacuated everyone for the sake of security.

He further said that a bomb-like object wrapped with red tape in a white bag, two litres of petrol and two circuits were found. CCTV footage is being analysed to identify the persons involved in the incident. Efforts are on to identify them quickly and bring them under the law.

Out of bomb panic sadhus and devotees started leaving the akhra premises from Monday morning. However they have alleged that everyone was made to leave the main courtyard of the mazar on the night of the incident itself and the main gate was kept closed.

Eyewitness at the spot Kalpana Khatun alleged that she informed the police after seeing the suspicious bag at night but initially the police did not give importance to the matter. Later the sadhus and devotees were made to leave the dham citing security. She also alleged that they had to face humiliation because of this.

Golam Sarwar, who had been staying at the akhra from the first day of the programme, has also raised questions about the role of the police. His allegation is that even after informing multiple police members after seeing the suspicious object they did not take effective steps initially. Later one police officer went to the spot and informed other officers.

Golam Sarwar said that seeing the role of the police responsible for security the sadhus and gurus became frustrated and panicked. Whoever could, left the akhra premises. He has demanded investigation of the incident and trial of the persons involved.

On the other hand, Fakir Samsul alleged that after making everyone leave the main courtyard of the mazar citing security the main gate was kept closed. No one was allowed to enter inside.

Monday was the last day of the three-day programme that started on Saturday. Concern has arisen over security at the venue due to the recovery of the bomb-like object.