Explosion at Narayanganj court

There has been a loud explosion in a toilet of the Narayanganj District and Sessions Judge’s Court.

Panic spread among lawyers and plaintiffs after the Thursday afternoon incident, though no one was hurt.

Additional Superintendent of Narayanganj Police Subrata Kumar Hawlader said a beggar, Champa Begam, had been detained.

The incident is being investigated and the scene of the explosion has been cordoned off, he told the reporters.

Possible militant involvement in the incident is also being probed, added the police officer.

The main entrance to the courtyard was locked immediately after the explosion to tighten security.

Lawyers and plaintiffs were subjected to a search before being allowed to enter the court compound.

Eyewitness lawyers Mazeda Begam and Kabita Begam said there was a loud explosion around 1:30pm in the court’s public toilet, shattering the ventilator glass.

Several one taka coins were found lying around in the toilet, where there was a strong smell of gunpowder.

“We thought the electric transformer had exploded. We never thought it would a bomb explosion. We (lawyers) were warned via SMS in our mobile phones that the court would be bombed,” said Mazeda Begam.

District Lawyers Association President Sakhawat Hossain said no one was hurt. There were very few people around because of the court’s winter vacation.

He thinks that the incident may be related to the SMS threats sent to the two lawyers.