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Bomb attack injures 10 at Lalbagh election rally of AL candidate
[Dhaka Tribune] More than 10 people, including three women and a child, were maimed yesterday in a kaboom at a rally in Lalbagh, organised by Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin, Awami League's election candidate for the Dhaka-7 constituency.Witnesses and police said unidentified criminals hurled three powerful bombs from the top of a building adjacent to the gate of Islambagh Eidgah grounds at around 5:30pm, as people were preparing to bring out a procession at the end of a rally. The injured victims Monir Hossain, 20, Kamrul Islam, 20, Md Yiad, 11, Alamgir Hossain, 42, Monowara Begum, 30, Khaleda Akhter, 22, Helena, 35, Faruq Rahman, 27, Belal Ahmed, 25, and Imran, 20 have been admitted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Sources at the DMCH said three among the injured -- Monir, Kamrul and Alamgir -- were at death's doors. Pedestrians were also among the victims, said the relatives of the victims. "Two or three unidentified criminals hurled three bombs from the top of an adjacent building. The bombs went kaboom!creating heavy sounds. But how they expeditiously departed at a goodly pace could not be seen because of heavy smoke which engulfed the entire area," said injured victim Belal Ahmed. Some locals claimed that small-time Mister Big Miah, a brother of Haji Delwar of Killarmor, and his aides might have made the attacks. Meanwhile, ...back at the Hubba Hubba Club, Nunzio wondered: Where the hell was Chumbaloni? And where was his $600?... Mostofa Jalal and State Minister for Law Quamrul Islam, who was also present at the rally, visited the victims at the DMCH later in the evening. Following the visit, the AL candidate said top ranking criminals -- who were seen sitting inside the rally venue were responsible for the attack. Jalal, however, did not elaborate who those criminals were loyal to. He added: "The attacks were made in an attempt to reduce my sky-high popularity." The candidate urged the government for proper investigation and arrest of the real criminals as well as responsible persons. On the other hand, Abdur Rouf, publicity secretary of Lalbagh thana unit of Swechchhasebok League, directly alleged rebel candidate Haji Mohammad Selim for the attacks. Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Rouf alleged: "None but the cadres of Haji Selim made the attacks." Haji Mohammad Selim, a former politician in the same constituency and a joint secretary of Awami League's Dhaka city unit, however snubbed out the allegation, saying: "I am not interested or involved in such activities. I am busy with my publicity activities. If anybody wants to involve me, it will be a wrongdoing for him." State minister Quamrul Islam said an investigation would reveal the criminals responsible and arrests would be made as per the investigation. Contacted, Harun-ur-Rashid, deputy police commissioner of Lalbagh division, said they were looking into the matter and trying to identify and arrest the responsible criminals. Posted by: Fred 2014-01-03 |
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