Ulto Rath Yatra passed right beside powerful 'pipe bomb' in Motijheel

Police suspect that a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) found under the Motijheel Metro Rail Station in the capital was planted along the route of the Ulto Rath Yatra (Return Chariot Festival) procession of the Hindu community. The procession passed by the location on Friday evening, and in the interest of public safety, police cordoned off the area, citing a "short circuit." After the procession had moved on, the bomb disposal unit destroyed the device in a controlled explosion.

These details have emerged in a case filed under the Explosive Substances Act at Motijheel Police Station. The case was filed by Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Mukta of Motijheel Police Station, naming unidentified individuals as accused.

According to the case statement, SI Mukta was on security duty for the Ulto Rath Yatra on Friday. The procession had started from the Dhakeshwari National Temple and was heading towards the Swamibagh Ashram via Shapla Chattar in Motijheel. Around 6pm, the traffic division informed the DMP control room that a bomb-like object emitting a flickering light had been found inside an umbrella under the Motijheel Metro Rail Station.

Upon receiving the information, police quickly cordoned off the area. At that exact moment, the Rath Yatra procession arrived at the location. Considering public safety, police told the crowd there had been a "short circuit," allowing the procession to proceed via an alternative route. After the public had dispersed, the bomb disposal unit of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit carried out a controlled explosion of the IED around 8pm.

Among the evidence recovered from the scene were pieces of a GI pipe, a battery, an electrical circuit and a large quantity of bearing balls. During the controlled explosion, a pedestrian, 66-year-old Miraj Ahmed, was injured by splinters, which struck his left eye. He was given first aid and later referred to the National Institute of Ophthalmology.

An official from the DMP bomb disposal unit described it as a powerful IED pipe bomb. It contained approximately 1.5kg of explosive material, along with a large quantity of iron shrapnel and bearing balls. The device was wired with a battery and electrical circuit in such a way that it could have been detonated instantly by pressing a button on the umbrella. Had it exploded, the shrapnel would have caused mass casualties.

Several police officials have said initial investigations suggest the bomb was planted with the intention of targeting the Ulto Rath Yatra . The case statement also notes that the explosive was placed there in a planned manner to tarnish the government's image, create panic among the public, and cause mass casualties.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police's additional commissioner and chief of Detective Branch, Shafiqul Islam, said it is initially believed that the bomb was planted targeting the Rath Yatra. However, the matter is still under investigation and no final conclusion can be reached before its completion.