Keraniganj madrasa blast: Al Amin’s militant links under investigation, 3 women held
Police are intensifying investigations into Sheikh Al Amin, the absconding director of Ummal Qura International Madrasa, following a powerful explosion in the Hasnabad area of South Keraniganj that injured four people, including his wife and three children.
Authorities have seized around 400 litres of chemical substances and suspected explosive materials from the madrasa.
Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Md Mizanur Rahman said at a press conference on Saturday that Al Amin has a history of alleged militant involvement.
In 2017, he was arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Narayanganj as a member of the banned outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), when firearms, explosives, knives, and extremist literature were recovered. He was released on bail in 2023.
Three women have been arrested in connection with the incident: Al Amin’s wife Asia, Asia’s elder brother’s wife Yasmin Akhter, and Asmani Khatun. Police are probing whether the chemicals and cocktail-like objects recovered from the madrasa were linked to extremist activity.
The madrasa had been operating in a rented building since 2022, with two rooms used for madrasa activities, one for Al Amin and his wife’s living quarters, and one room – used as a sitting area – found to contain large quantities of chemicals. The blast occurred in that room, injuring Asia and her three children, aged 10 years, two years, and six months.
According to SP Mizanur Rahman, Al Amin initially took his injured family to a local hospital before fleeing the scene. Subsequent raids led to the arrests of Asia, Yasmin Akhter, and Asmani Khatun from Basabo in Dhaka.
“Several cases exist against Sheikh Al Amin. After his release on bail, he worked as an auto-rickshaw and ride-sharing driver,” said SP Mizanur Rahman, adding that investigations are ongoing to determine whether the current incident has links to militant or extremist activities.
Police are examining all angles, including the possibility of a chemical reaction or deliberate sabotage, particularly in the context of the upcoming national elections. The Bomb Disposal Unit, Anti-Terrorism Unit, and CID’s Crime Scene Unit are continuing their investigation, and further arrests have not been ruled out.
“The investigation has been launched keeping every possibility in mind,” the superintendent said.
Police have seized around 400 litres of chemical substances and suspected explosive materials from a madrasa in South Keraniganj following a powerful explosion that injured four people, including a woman and three children.
Three women have been arrested in connection with the incident, while the madrasa’s director, Sheikh Al Amin, remains absconding.
Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Md Mizanur Rahman disclosed the developments at a press conference at South Keraniganj Police Station on Saturday afternoon.
He said investigators are probing whether the blast was caused by a chemical reaction or the use of explosives.
Those arrested are Asia, wife of Ummal Qura International Madrasa director Sheikh Al Amin; Yasmin Akhter, wife of Asia’s elder brother; and Asmani Khatun.
The explosion occurred on Friday morning at the privately run madrasa in the Hasnabad area.
Police said the madrasa had been operating in a rented building since 2022.
Of the four rooms in the building, two were used for madrasa activities, one was used as living quarters by Sheikh Al Amin and his wife, and another room – used as a sitting area – was found to contain large quantities of chemicals.
The blast occurred in that room, injuring Asia and her three children, aged 10 years, two years and six months.
During the post-blast inspection, police recovered multiple drums filled with chemical liquid, along with cocktail-like objects and suspected explosive materials. Following the discovery, the Bomb Disposal Unit, Anti-Terrorism Unit and the CID’s Crime Scene Unit were deployed to the site.
According to police, Sheikh Al Amin initially took his injured wife and children to a local Ad-Din Hospital before referring them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
He later fled, leaving them behind. Subsequent raids led to the detention of Asia and Yasmin Akhter, whose interrogation resulted in the arrest of Asmani Khatun from Basabo in Dhaka.
Police also confirmed that Sheikh Al Amin has a history of alleged militant links.
In 2017, he was arrested by RAB in Narayanganj along with two others for alleged involvement with the banned militant outfit JMB, when firearms, explosives and extremist literature were reportedly recovered. He was released on bail in 2023.
“Several cases exist against Sheikh Al Amin. After his release on bail, he worked as an auto-rickshaw and later as a ride-sharing driver,” SP Mizanur Rahman said, adding that investigations are underway to determine whether the current incident has any militant or extremist connections.
Regarding the motive, police said the explosion may have been triggered by a reaction among the stored chemicals, though all possibilities – including sabotage ahead of the national election – are being examined.
“The investigation has been launched keeping everything in mind,” the superintendent said, noting that further arrests may follow as the probe progresses.