4 hurt in capital explosions

At least four people, including a schoolboy, sustained injuries from bombings in different parts of the capital during the first day of a 36-hour hartal yesterday.

Rayhan Ahmed, a 12-year schoolboy, sustained shrapnel wounds when pro-hartal activists exploded three improvised bombs in Babu Bazar area at around 12pm. He was returning home with his mother after completing regular coaching class.

Rayhan received medical attention from Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital. On the incident Abu Bakkar Siddique, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station told the Dhaka Tribune that three bombs exploded near Babu Bazar Bridge at noon but no one had yet been arrested in connection with the explosions.

Meanwhile, Abdur Razzak, 45, a rickshaw-puller, hailing from Comilla and Shahjahan Mia, 50, a resident of Bangshal area were also admitted to the same hospital.

They were both hurt when pro-hartal activists hurled two crude bombs at around 1:30pm in the city’s Tantibazar area. Nizamuddin, a Medical Officer in the hospital said Razzak received injuries in his left leg, while Shahjahan was hurt in his back.

Talking to this correspondent at the hospital, Razzak, visibly in a lot of pain and tears in eyes, said his wife and two children were waiting for him for food, as he was the only earner in the family.

When contacted, Bangshal Police Station Officer in-Charge Abdul Kuddus Fakir told the Dhaka Tribune: “A rickshaw-puller and a pedestrian were injured in [Molotov] cocktail blasts and we are looking for the criminals.”

Elsewhere, in Gulistan, a passerby named Sirajul Islam, 50, was injured when a homemade bomb exploded in front of Fulbaria Bus Stand at around 1pm. Mozammel Haque, sub-inspector of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police outpost, said Sirajul was rushed to DMCH with shrapnel wounds to his elbow.