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Nationwide alarm in Bangladesh

Haroon Habib

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Wednesday was rocked by unprecedented simultaneous bomb blasts which left so far two persons dead and nearly 150 injured triggering a nation-wide alarm.

The bombers were remarkably organised and executed their plan using crude bombs, some with time devices, almost across the country exactly between 11:00 am to 11: 30 am, government officials, eyewitness and media reporters said.

Police and other agencies suspected the hand of Islamist militant group Jamiat-ul- Mujahideen Bangladesh behind the blasts as they found leaflets at all the scenes of explosions in its name.

The leaflets called for implementation of "Islamic rule" in Bangladesh. The serial blasts took place in over 63 out of 64 administrative districts including Dhaka, mainly in the Supreme Court, district courts, district administrative offices, press clubs, railway stations and educational institutions, within hours of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's departure for an official visit to China. The blasts caused panic leading to massive traffic jams.

Parents rushed to bring their children home from school. Police said they had arrested nearly 50 suspects but did not give details.

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