Bomb Defused Near Dhaka Metro as Rath Yatra Procession Targeted

On a quiet Friday night in Dhaka, an ordinary‑looking umbrella turned out to be anything but harmless. Police discovered a crude improvised explosive device (IED) tucked beneath the canopy at the Motijheel metro station, just along the planned route of the city’s Rath Yatra procession.

According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Assistant Commissioner Hussain Muhammad Farabi said the device was a “cocktail” of explosives concealed inside the umbrella’s handle. When the umbrella’s button was pressed – something a curious passer‑by might have done – a circuit would have triggered a blast, spraying shrapnel from a pipe bomb packed with about 1.5 kg of sulphur, barbed wire and sharp metal bits.

The bomb‑squad moved quickly, but not before a 33‑year‑old bystander, Miraj Ahmed, was struck by a fragment that grazed his left eye. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors treated a minor eye injury and ensured he was stable.

Motijheel Police Sub‑Inspector Mukta filed a case under Bangladesh’s Explosive Substances Act, charging unknown perpetrators with a pre‑meditated attempt to endanger public safety and sow panic. The investigation is still underway, and officials have urged the public to stay vigilant.

This incident arrives amid growing alarm over attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh. Just weeks earlier, Hindu leaders demanded the release of Haridas Chandra Tarani Das, who was detained on money‑laundering accusations after proposing a towering Lord Ram statue in Gaibandha. Protesters, organized by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, called for stronger protection of minority rights and an end to interference in worship‑site constructions.

While the IED was defused before any devastation, the episode underscores the persistent threats faced by Bangladesh’s Hindu community and the need for heightened security during high‑visibility religious events.