Kishoreganj – At least four people, including two police members, were killed and 10-15 others injured in a bomb explosion followed by a volley of gunfire near the country’s largest Eid congregation at Sholakia Eidgah in Sadar upazila on Thursday morning.
The deceased police personnel were identified as constables Johirul and Ansarullah, said superintendent of Kishoreganj police Anwar Hossain Khan.
Among the two other deceased, one was identified as Jharna Rani Bhowmik, a resident of Sholakia, while the identity of the other deceased could not be ascertained immediately.
Deputy Inspector General (Dhaka Range) of Police SM Mahfuzul Haque Nuruzzaman said the woman was killed as the attackers on the run fired at her while the other deceased is one of the attackers.
The injured were whisked off to Sadar hospital. Some were later shifted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.
Police sources informed that they have already arrested two of the attackers, one of them bullet injured, and recovered three 9 mm pistol and some sharp weapons during a drive in the surrounding locality immediately afterwards.
According to police sources, at least six attackers were involved in the attack. The drive is still on to arrest the remaining attackers.
Further detail about the attack of the arrestees will be revealed later.
Witnesses said the attackers exploded some crude bombs near Ajimuddin High School adjacent to Sholakia Eidgah no sooner had the helicopter carrying Mawlana Farid Uddin Masud landed at Kishoreganj Stadium near the Eidgah around 9:15am.
After exploding the bombs, some of the attackers rushed towards the Stadium area in their bid to escape and fired rounds of bullets there.
Simultaneously, sound of a volley of gunfire was heard near the spot of the first explosion.
Despite the incident, the Eid prayer was offered at Sholakia Eidgah. The prayer was led by Mawlana Shoeb instead of Mawlana Farid Uddin Masud given the circumstances.
