3 killed in Gaibandha explosion

Three people were killed in an explosion inside a house in Gaibandha's Gobindaganj upazila yesterday afternoon.

The explosion happened at 4:20pm, moments after the owner of the house and three others went into one of the rooms. The explosion blew off the corrugated-iron sheet roof of the house in Noyapara village.

Owner Borhan Uddin, 40, his neighbour Wahedul Islam, 32, were among the dead. Police could not immediately identity the other person.

Police cordoned off the area over suspicion that there could be more explosives. Bomb disposal unit of the DMP's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit went to the spot.

On the possible involvement of militants, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Devdas Bhattacharya of Rangpur Range told The Daily Star, "It is not possible to say now. We are checking the profiles of the deceased. The wife of the deceased has been detained for interrogation.

"We would be able to say clearly what actually happened later," he added.

Gaibandha Superintendent of Police Touhidul Islam said they had seen a black bag, which had some things that looked like stones and an extension cable.

"We have called in our explosive expert team. After they examine and investigate, it will be clearer," said the SP.

The SP said they have already detained five people, including Borhan's mother, wife, sister-in-law and Wahedul's wife and Habibur Rahman, who hails from Shibganj in Bogura.

Locals said Habibur and the unidentified deceased went to Borhan's home around 3:30pm on a motorcycle.

As Borhan's family members told them that Borhan was working on his paddy field, the duo asked Wahedul to go to the field and fetch him.

As they return, Borhan and Wahedul and the two others entered the room where there was no furniture and the floor was mostly covered with raw turmeric.

"Habibur hails from the Shibganj upazila of Bogura. We are suspecting that he is involved with this incident," SP Touhidul told The Daily Star.

The SP said they came to know that Borhan was a Kuwait expatriate and he returned from the Gulf country 10 years ago. Now he is engaged in farming, the SP added.

Wahedul Islam is a van-puller, he said.

Talking with The Daily Star last night, Rahmatullah Chowdhury, in-charge of the bomb disposal unit at the CTTC, said, "After analyzing the injury patterns, it seems it was a strong explosion."