Dhaka, Aug. 1: The recovery of two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) within a week in and around Bangladesh’s capital has raised fresh concerns about public security and the possibility of renewed extremist activity, prompting calls from security analysts for a thorough investigation.
The latest incident occurred in Ashulia, on the outskirts of Dhaka, where police recovered a powerful pressure cooker bomb left inside a grocery store. According to investigators, a masked man entered the shop late at night, claimed he needed to exchange money, left the bag behind, and never returned. Local residents alerted police after noticing the unattended bag.
Bomb disposal experts from the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit later neutralized the device through a controlled explosion. Authorities said the IED contained ball bearings, metal fragments and high-powered explosives capable of causing significant casualties. The controlled detonation reportedly generated a shockwave that damaged a nearby building.
The discovery came just one week after another IED was found concealed inside an umbrella beneath Motijheel Metro Rail Station in central Dhaka. Investigators said the device had been designed to explode when the umbrella was opened. It reportedly contained batteries, electronic circuitry, metal fragments and explosive materials.
Several suspicious objects were also reported at Mirpur and Farmgate metro stations on Saturday, further heightening public concern, though authorities have not confirmed whether those objects contained explosives.
Security analysts say the design and construction of the recovered devices resemble methods previously associated with banned militant groups in Bangladesh. They have urged investigators to determine who manufactured the explosives, where they were assembled, and whether an organized network is involved.
However, CTTC Chief and Additional Police Commissioner Mohammad Shamsul Haque said authorities have found no indication of a resurgence of violent extremism. He said law enforcement agencies continue to monitor online platforms, intelligence reports and other sources for potential threats.
Experts have recommended strengthening surveillance at transport hubs, shopping centres, religious sites and other crowded locations, while urging the public to immediately report any suspicious unattended objects to law enforcement without attempting to handle them.
The investigations into both incidents are ongoing, and no group has claimed responsibility.
