Cumilla (Bangladesh) : Serial petrol bomb blasts near Kalagachhitola Temple

3 persons injured

Cumilla (Bangladesh) – Serial petrol bomb blasts occurred on 7 March near the Kalagachhitola Temple and on the adjoining road in the city. Three persons were injured in the blasts. The injured include the priest of the Kalagachhitola Temple, Keshab Chakraborty, and a local resident, Abdul Barek. The identity of the third injured person has not yet been established.

According to CCTV footage, at around 6.28 p.m., a burkha-clad individual entered the temple premises, placed a bag there and fled. Within a few moments, an explosion occurred.

Cumilla Police stated that a search operation is underway to arrest the culprits at the earliest. The Police have obtained CCTV footage from the site and the investigation is ongoing. While fleeing from the spot, the attackers also hurled a crude bomb at a nearby Buddhist temple.

Tapas Bakshi, General Secretary of the Cumilla branch of the Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council, said that the attack may have been carried out with the intention of disturbing religious harmony in the area. This locality has one Buddhist temple, two Hindu temples and one mosque. (When the attacker spared the mosque but targeted the Hindu and Buddhist temples, it becomes clear who carried out these explosions ! – Editor) Police have seized an axe and a bag along with other evidence from the spot. We demand a thorough investigation into the incident.