Police have seized around 250 kilograms of bomb-making materials, crude explosives and chemicals from a madrasa in Keraniganj, a day after a powerful explosion ripped through the building, injuring four people including a woman and two children.
The raid was carried out on Saturday at Ummal Qura International Madrasa in Hasnabad area, where law enforcement agencies continue operations amid fears of further hidden explosives.
“The drive is still ongoing. Crude bombs and bomb-making materials have been recovered. Detailed information will be shared after the operation ends,” said Saiful Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Keraniganj Police Station.
Two women have been detained for questioning, and police said a case will be filed in connection with the incident.
According to police, members of the Crime Scene Unit and Bomb Disposal Unit safely neutralised the huge cache of explosives on Saturday afternoon, preventing what officials said could have led to a much larger tragedy.
The blast occurred around Friday noon, leaving the madrasa’s director Sheikh Al Amin (32), his wife Asiya Begum (28) and their two sons – Umayet, 10, and Abdullah, 7, – injured. The victims were initially taken to Ad-Din Hospital before being shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Police said the explosion caused visible cracks in the roof and beams of the building, while two rooms and a neighbouring structure suffered partial damage.
Local resident Afser Uddin said about 50 students studied at the madrasa, but it was closed at the time of the blast due to the weekly holiday – an accident many believe saved dozens of lives.
Another resident, Humayun Kabir, said debris from the explosion struck him as he was returning home.
“Bricks fell on my head and I lost consciousness. Locals rushed me to hospital,” he said.
According to locals, three rooms of the building were used for madrasa activities, while Al Amin had been living with his family in a separate room for the past three years.
Building owner Parveen Begum said she was shocked by the discovery.
“I had no idea such activities were going on under the guise of a madrasa,” she said, adding that the institution was initially run by Mufti Harun, before management was handed over to Al Amin and his wife.
Following the incident, security has been tightened in the area as investigators probe the source and intended use of the explosives.
Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Md Mizanur Rahman said that the mystery of the bomb blast in the madrasa has been solved. Details will be announced at a press conference at South Keraniganj Police Station in the afternoon.
Source: UNB