Nine cocktails explode in one evening at Dhaka University, three detained

Nine cocktails exploded one after another at different places on the Dhaka University campus on Sunday evening. Police have detained three people in connection with the incident.

The blasts took place at the TSC, the area beside the administrative building, the VC Chattar, the Mukti o Ganatantra Toron at Nilkhet and other places on the campus. Panic spread among students and the general public.

At 6:35pm a cocktail exploded in front of the Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building of the university. After that, two consecutive blasts were heard in the TSC area. Then more blasts were heard beside the administrative building, at the VC Chattar and in front of the Mukti o Ganatantra Toron near Nilkhet.

Blasts were also heard near Jagannath Hall and in the Shahbagh and Bangla Academy areas.

At 6:40pm three people were detained from under the metro rail station adjacent to the TSC. Police, with the help of local people, detained them on charges of involvement in the cocktail blasts and took them to Shahbagh police station.

The detained are Rezaul Karim (42), Sohel Rana (33) and Nazmus Sad (33). Rezaul Karim is from Gurudaspur in Natore, Sohel Rana from Puthia in Rajshahi and Nazmus Sad from Kotalipara in Gopalganj.

Witnesses said that after the blasts in the TSC area, students and people present saw some people fleeing and tried to detain them. Witnesses said they were also beaten at the time. Later, with the help of local people and police, the three were detained and taken to the police station.

University Proctor Israfil Ratan said three people have been detained so far in connection with the cocktail blasts on campus. The university's proctorial team and students jointly detained them, and they were later taken to the police station.

The proctor said seven to nine cocktails exploded at different places on the campus. However, there was no damage or loss in these incidents.

Security on the campus has been strengthened after the blasts, and discussions are under way on what measures can be taken at the entry and exit points. A meeting is also being held on the matter.

The proctor said he believes the incidents may have been carried out to spread panic on the campus. Through this, those involved want to show that they can enter the campus if they wish. But the university administration is aware of the matter.

Police said legal action will be taken against the detained persons after further investigation and interrogation at the police station. The proctor said more details about the incident may emerge once the detained persons are interrogated through legal process.