BNP student leader dies of blast wounds

A student leader of the BNP has died of wounds suffered during an explosion while ‘making bombs’ in a house at Old Dhaka’s Lalbagh.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 22 Jan 2015, 03:30 AM
Updated : 22 Jan 2015, 08:00 AM

Mahbubur Rahman Bappi passed away around 6am Thursday, said SI Mozammel Haque of the police outpost at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

He was general secretary of BNP student front Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s New Market unit.

Police said the 25-year old student leader was making bombs in his brother-in-law’s house when the explosion occurred on Wednesday afternoon.

"We are quite sure that he was making bombs sitting on the bed. The part of the bed where the blast took place has blown off," Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Deputy Commissioner Mafizuddin Ahmed said.

Two others, 'Happy', 16, and 'Ripon', 6, were also injured in the blast. The three were admitted to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

Happy, an eight grade student of Azimpur Girls High School, said she was watching TV when her uncle Bappi was 'doing something' sitting on the floor.

"Suddenly fire erupted from something and the room was filled with smoke. Then the blast took place," she said.

Police arrested nine people including ‘Bappi’s brother-in-law Abdul Hakim and the landlord Abul Kashem for interrogation.

The BNP-led alliance’s indefinite countrywide blockade that began on Jan 5 has been marked by numerous cases of bomb attacks and arson on vehicles.

Many have been killed in those acts of violence.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday morning, police recovered a large quantity of materials for making bombs and arrested five leaders and activists from an alleged Islami Chhatra Shibir-controlled mess in Mohakhali. The bombs were for use during the blockade, said police.