A sudden explosion involving sandbags in Barishal’s Bakerganj has triggered fresh security discussions, leading to the deployment of a specialised bomb disposal unit from Dhaka.
The incident, which left three members of a local family critically injured, occurred amid a nationwide high alert issued by the Police Headquarters, a move the authorities described as unusual since sandbags are typically used to mitigate blast damage.
The blast took place at approximately 6:30am on Monday at the residence of the late Shah Alam Howlader in Dudhalmou village, located in Bharpasha union. According to police, sandbags stored in a corner of an abandoned woodshed suddenly exploded, sparking a fire.
The victims – identified as Shah Alam’s widow, Hanufa Begum; his 19-year-old daughter, Iti Akter; and his 14-year-old grandson, Fahim – were in the courtyard nearby when the explosion occurred.
As their clothes caught fire, they jumped into the adjacent Paira River to save themselves. All three were subsequently admitted to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in critical condition.
Adil Hossain, officer-in-charge of Bakerganj Police Station, said the motive and the identity of those who may have planted the explosives remain unconfirmed. “The matter will be investigated, and legal action will be taken,” he said.
Barishal Superintendent of Police (SP) AZM Mostafizur Rahman confirmed that a bomb disposal unit from Dhaka had arrived in Barishal. Addressing the unusual nature of the blast, the SP noted that the exact type of explosive would only be determined after the team completes its examination.
Mohammad Shamsul Haque, Additional Police Commissioner and head of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, also confirmed to TIMES of Bangladesh the deployment of experts to investigate the cause of the sandbag explosion.
Rising security alerts
The explosion follows a series of recent incidents involving explosive devices. On 24 July, police recovered a powerful IED found inside an umbrella near the Motijheel Metro Rail station, which was reportedly targeting a Hindu “Ulto Rath Yatra” procession.
Another incident involving a bag with a protruding umbrella in front of Bangladesh Bank caused panic but was found to contain no explosives. On 31 July, a sophisticated bomb was recovered from a pressure cooker inside a travel bag in the Khejurbagan area of Ashulia.
On Saturday, suspicious bags were investigated at the Mirpur-10 and Farmgate metro stations, though the DMP bomb disposal team confirmed they contained no explosives. That same day, the Police Headquarters Operations Control Room issued an emergency directive to all field units to bolster security.
The message warned that extremist groups or miscreants might target police vehicles, including jeeps, pickups, and buses. Officers were instructed to ensure vehicles are parked in secure locations under surveillance when temporarily stopped.
Moreover, the directive ordered increased security through regular patrols and monitoring for vehicles parked at police stations, police lines, and office premises to detect suspicious persons or objects.
However, DMP Additional Police Commissioner (DB) Md Shafiqul Islam later clarified in a briefing that the alert was a “reminder” for field-level officers to remain cautious rather than a response to specific intelligence.
