AL lawmaker Taposh escapes bomb attack
AL lawmaker Taposh escapes bomb attack
13 injured, MP's car damaged as criminals hurl bomb in front of his office
Staff Correspondent
Assailants hurled a bomb at ruling Awami League lawmaker Fazle Noor Taposh's car in front of his law chamber at Motijheel last night leaving at least 13 people injured. MP Taposh survived the incident.
Nur-e-Alam, personal secretary to Taposh, said, "The lawmaker survived the incident with minor injuries. He managed to get away from the scene on the damaged car and went directly to the prime minister's Jamuna residence on Minto Road."
He said as the MP's car started, the bomb exploded with a deafening sound leaving at least 13, including security guards of the MP's chamber building, injured and several other cars damaged. Taposh's car was also severely damage with the windshield shattered.
Lawmaker Taposh is the eldest son of late Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni, cousin of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and founder of Juba League.
Witness and victim of the incident Salahuddin Panna, Gopalganj district Awami League leader, said as the car started around 8:30pm there was a huge explosion and smoke was all over. Later he found many lying injured.
Another witnesses said right after the explosion people surrounded the lawmaker while others attended the injured.
The injured were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) right away.
Md Ibrahim Khalil, medical officer of DMCH, said no splinter was found in the x-ray reports of the injured. But while dressing, small pinhead-size injuries from fragments of glass were found on the injured people.
Hospital sources said Rashud Al Mamun, Juba League activist of Gopalganj, had to be shifted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) as his injuries were serious. Condition of two other injured -- Kamal Hyder and Abdul Halim -- is also serious and may also be shifted to CMH.
Members of Rapid Action Battalion, Criminal Investigation Department and other law enforcement agencies rushed to the spot and blocked the Dainik Bangla intersection-Shapla Chattar road.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Khandaker Mahid Uddin of Motijheel zone told The Daily Star that though the lawmaker was safe some people were injured in the explosion.
The DC said they were yet to identify the criminals and ascertain the motive behind the attack.
Special Superintendent of Special Branch (SB) of Police Md Mahbubur Rahman after his preliminary investigation said the bomb was locally-made.
Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad and Director General of Directorate General of Health Shah Monir Hossain, among others, visited the hospital and enquired about treatment of the injured.
Meanwhile, leaders and activists of different fronts of Awami League brought out precessions chanting anti-Jamaat-e-Islami slogans at Motijheel and Dhaka University and in the other parts of the city.
Bangladesh Chhatra League announced demonstrations in all educational institutions across the country at 11:00am while Juba League at Bangabandhu Avenue today at 3:00pm.
