Security in airports, jails and key point installations (KPIs) across the country has been tightened after a suspected suicide bomber blew himself up at the site of a proposed RAB headquarters at Ashkona near the Hajj camp yesterday. Two RAB men were injured in the explosion. The Hajj camp is opposite the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (SIA). The young man, believed to be in his twenties, apparently triggered the explosives strapped to his body.
The two RAB men, who were injured from the explosion later, challenged the man when he scaled the security fence of the compound that housed a temporary barrack of the elite force.
The incident took place around 1pm.
The man was blown into pieces following the explosion, RAB director (media) Mufti Mahmud Khan told reporters at a briefing after the incident.
A RAB bomb disposal unit rushed to the spot to probe the explosion. A tattered bag, carried by the young man, was found at the explosion site, according to witnesses.
The two injured RAB men were admitted to the hospital. Senior RAB officials also rushed to the spot.
The incident occurred a day after the joint forces operation busted a militants’ hideout in Sitakunda, Chittagong, leaving five people, including four militants, killed. The extremists, believed to be from the neo-JMB, set off explosives tied to their bodies after shooting and hurling bombs at the security men.
Meanwhile, Amaq News Agency, run by the Islamic State (IS) militants, reported the suspected suicide blast at the RAB barrack in Dhaka without claiming its involvement. The agency reported the incident in Arabic language, according to US-based SITE Intelligence Group. However, Quoting Amaq, BBC reported that the IS has claimed responsibility for the attack. BBC said that Amaq claimed the IS responsibility through messaging app Telegram.