Police suspect ‘high-powered liquid explosives’ caused blast at female student hostel in Comilla

Police in Comilla have started a case against three members of Islami Chhatri Sangstha (ICS) over an explosion that left one injured at a female student hostel, which they suspect was caused by ‘high-powered liquid explosives’.

Kotbarhi outpost’s in-charge Sub-Inspector (SI) Shahidul Bashar lodged the anti-terrorism case on Wednesday night at Comilla Sadar South Police Station, said the station’s SI Khademul Bahar.

The blast at Proshanti Chhatri Nibas, located near Comilla University, took place in the early hours of Tuesday, leaving economics department student and Chhatri Sangstha activist Fahmida Hasan Nisha burnt.

She has been admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Chhatri Sangstha is the female student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, which opposed Bangladesh’s independence during the 1971 Liberation War.

SI Bahar said eight persons were detained on Tuesday over the incident. But five of them were released after questioning.

The three others – Nisha, ICT department student Nur Nahar and accounting department student Morjina Aktar – were named in the case along with several unknown persons, he added.

Comilla’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Shah Abid Hossain said Nahar and Morjina both were also members of Chhatri Sangsthaa.

He said they suspect the explosion was caused by some kind of new liquid explosives. “The impact of this blast was massive. This has become a matter of concern. This explosive device didn’t have any splinter or detonator.”

“We think Nisha was doing something with that high-powered liquid explosives in the early hours. The blast in her room had triggered another explosion in the next room. This happened due to the reaction to heat.”

“But we’ll know and tell you more once the forensic tests are done,” said SP Hossain.