Quader sees sign of ‘bigger attack’ in Saturday’s blast

Dhaka, Sept 1 (UNB) – Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday said Saturday’s bomb attack on cops near Science Laboratory here might be a ‘test attack’ before a bigger one as militants are there in hideouts to raise their ugly heads.

“Militants have got weakened, not uprooted yet from the country. Detectives are investigating the attack,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.

Replying to a question whether Islamic State (IS) has any link to the attack, he said detectives are looking into it. The attackers will be arrested soon, he insisted.

Asked if the LGRD Minister was the target of the attack, Quader said, “It’s not correct that the attack was made on the minister as I’ve talked to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner (DMP) about it.”

On Saturday night, an assistant sub-inspector and a constable, both members of the protection team of LGRD Minister Tazul Islam, were injured when a crude bomb exploded near Science Laboratory crossing.

Replying to a query about National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in neighbouring Assam, Quader said the government is closely observing the situation in Assam and ready to deal with any situation politically and diplomatically.