A series of cocktail explosions rocked the area in front of the BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan late Saturday night, causing panic among pedestrians and commuters, though no casualties were immediately reported.
According to BNP Executive Committee Member Md Abdus Sattar Patwari, unidentified miscreants detonated the cocktails around 10:15 PM and fled the scene. The incident caused widespread alarm among passersby, many of whom were seen running for safety.
Confirming the explosion, Paltan Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nasirul Amin said authorities are investigating the matter.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, speaking to reporters at the party’s central office shortly after the incident, claimed that the attack was an attempt to intimidate the opposition. “Throwing bombs will not scare BNP,” he said, alleging that the perpetrators were known and their motives clear to the party, though he refrained from naming individuals.
He added, “This was a deliberate attempt to destabilize the political environment. We strongly urge the government to identify and arrest those involved.”
Rizvi further accused the ruling Awami League of orchestrating attacks to tarnish BNP’s image, saying, “This is Sheikh Hasina’s culture of politics—using fear and sabotage to suppress the opposition. They must understand that there will be consequences.”
The blast reportedly occurred around 9:58 PM, just minutes before the second confirmed detonation. Three separate explosions were heard in total near the party’s central office entrance on the main road.
As investigations continue, BNP leaders maintain that this was a calculated political attack, calling on the authorities to act swiftly and ensure a secure environment for political activities.