Seven cocktail blasts rock DU, three detained

Photo: collected

Seven cocktail bombs exploded at different locations on the Dhaka University (DU) campus on Sunday evening.  

Three suspected persons were detained in connection with the incidents.

The explosions took place around 6:30 pm at TSC, the Mukti and Ganotantra Toran, the VC Chattar, in front of ULAB School, near the gate of Jagannath Hall and in front of the Senate Building.

Chhatra Dal activists detained three suspects and later handed them over to Shahbagh Police Station.

Sajjadur Rahman, senior joint convener of Chhatra Dal's Bijoy Ekattor Hall unit, said the first explosion took place near the university's garden. A second blast followed at the TSC gate near the metro station.

He said several people were seen fleeing the scene. Chhatra Dal activists chased them and detained two people. Another person was detained in front of Jagannath Hall.

The detainees were identified as Rezaul Karim, 42, from Natore; Sohel Rana, 33, from Rajshahi; and Nazmus Sad, 33, from Gopalganj.

DU Proctor Professor Israfil Prang said students detained two people after the explosion at TSC and handed them over to the proctorial team.

He said Shahbagh Police Station had been informed and authorities were reviewing CCTV footage to investigate the incidents.

Meanwhile, the series of explosions created panic among students and visitors on the campus. Chhatra Dal activists staged protests against the incidents and also held a sit-in at Shahbagh Police Station.  

DU Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon said they believed activists of the banned Chhatra League were behind the surprise cocktail attacks. He alleged that the attacks were aimed at disrupting the normal academic environment that had returned to the campus after August 5.