In response to the latest series of minor bomb blasts on Tuesday, the Bangladeshi police throughout the nation is on high alert.

The suspected militants on Tuesday exploded several bombs at the railway stations in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet prompting the Government to order high security alert across the country.

Law enforcers and witnesses said the bombs were exploded between 6:45 am and 9:00am rocking the railway stations in Dhaka city’s Kamalapur, Sylhet and Chittagong.

A rickshawpuller was injured in the Chittagong blast but the explosion spread panic among commuters. The critically injured rickshawpuller identified as Monir Ahmed is being treated at Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Doctors have amputed one of his

fingers yesterday.

Zadid al Qaeda, an unknown outfit, claimed the responsibility of the bomb blast leaving identical aluminum plates at the explosion scenes. The plates inscribes castigating the minority Kadianis, also known as Ahmedias, and NGO activists asking them to quit

their jobs by May 10.

“The Kadianis would have to face death unless they accept Hazrat Muhammad (SM) as the last and greatest of all prophets,” the plates read.

The outfit also urged all to break all relations with NGOs as they are “haram or forbidden”.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed directed law-enforcement agencies to find the masterminds of the blasts while Information Adviser Mainul Hosein told newsmen that the government ordered a countrywide high security alert.

“The government has taken it seriously as it involves public security,” Barrister Mainul said.

The authorities ordered an immediate investigation while police and other security agencies launched a massive hunt to find the suspected militants. A security official said, “It initially appeared that one single organisation exploded the bombs in a planned way.”

Elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), detective police and other agencies examined the evidence at the scenes.

Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Naim Ahmed, however, said the evidence showed that the devices exploded were “impoverished and weak” in nature.

The police have set up check posts at various spots in the capital and are checking all types of vehicles. Extra policemen were mobilised to guard the diplomatic zone Baridhara besides bus terminals, railway stations and ferry terminals, officials said.

The blasts occurred a month after the execution of six top leaders of the outlawed Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), which had announced its emergence carrying out a series of nationwide bomb blasts in

Bangladesh on August 17, 2005.

Officials earlier suspected the group could be reorganised under new outfits following a massive security clampdown on its remnants.

DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed questioned the authenticity of the existence of Zadid al Qaeda saying, “They may be working in a different name.”

He said unlike JMB or JMJB the Zadid al Qaeda did not call for the establishment of Islamic rule. They are against certain sect and NGO’s.

Chittagong Police control said a bomb was exploded at 7:00am adjacent to the boundary wall of the Chittagong railway station.

The police said one stranger came to a woman beggar and gave her a packet saying that there are some foods for you. The beggar gave the packet to the ill-fated rickshawpuller requesting him to open the packet.

When Monir attempted to open the packet, it exploded with a loud bang making high sound that rocked the whole area burning his body.

The police said the stranger fled the scene immediately after the explosion.

RAB officials in Dhaka gathered the aluminum plate and other evidence from the Kamalapur for further investigation.

Our Sylhet Correspondent reported that the bomb blasted at the main gate of the passangers’ lounge just behind the ticket counter of the new Sylhet Railway station at around 7.29am.

Police filed three separate cases in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet in this connection.

© The Bangladesh Journal