Man held after ‘improvised explosive’ blast outside EC offices

“We have obtained the names of a few others after questioning him,” a police official says

Police have “chased down” and detained a man after an “improvised explosive”, colloquially known as cocktail bomb, was detonated in front of the Election Commission (EC) headquarters in Dhaka’s Agargaon.

The blast occurred around 11:30pm on Saturday, according to Ibne Mizan, deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Tejgaon Division.

“Some miscreants set off a cocktail bomb-like object outside the building. After we heard a loud noise, our patrol team was able to chase down and arrest one person,” he said.

Although the details of the arrest were not initially disclosed, Ibne Mizan said that the names of “many more” involved have been uncovered.

“We have obtained the names of a few others after questioning him. We hope this is an isolated incident, so there is nothing to worry about.”

“I am looking into the matter diligently and trying to bring these miscreants to justice.”

When asked about the political identity of the detained man, Deputy Commissioner Mizan said that further “verification” was needed.

“Police are deployed here, and patrol teams in this area have been strengthened.”

"Our Ansar and police personnel caught him as he tried to escape after throwing a cocktail at our office," said Ruhul Amin Mollick, public relations director of the EC.