A powerful explosion ripped through a madrasa building in Keraniganj on the outskirts of Dhaka on Friday, injuring four people, including women and children. Police said they recovered cocktails, chemical substances, and bomb-making equipment from the scene, raising serious security concerns.
The explosion occurred around midday on December 26 at the one-storey building of Ummal Qura International Madrasa in the Hasnabad area of South Keraniganj. Witnesses reported a loud blast that caused walls to collapse and left cracks in the roof and beams of the structure. Two rooms were completely destroyed, while adjacent rooms also sustained damage.
According to local residents, the madrasa was operated by Sheikh Ala Amin. Although around 50 students were enrolled, the institution was closed on Friday due to the weekly holiday, preventing further casualties.
Those injured in the blast were identified as madrasa director Sheikh Ala Amin (32), his wife Asiya Begum (28), and their two sons—Umayet (10) and Abdullah (7). Asiya Begum and the two children were initially taken to a local hospital and later referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.
Police said part of the building was used for madrasa activities, while the director and his family had been living in adjacent rooms for the past three years.
The property owner, Parveen Begum, claimed she was unaware of any illegal activities taking place under the guise of madrasa operations. “I had no idea what was going on inside. Today I saw the entire building damaged. Police recovered chemicals, cocktails, and bomb-making tools from inside,” she said.
South Keraniganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Alam confirmed that the bomb disposal unit seized explosive materials from the site. A general diary (GD) has been filed, and Asiya Begum has been taken into police custody for interrogation. Further investigation is underway.
