Dhaka, Dec 25: Panic gripped central Dhaka Wednesday evening when a bomb hurled from a flyover exploded in a crowded area near the Freedom Fighters’ Memorial, killing a young man identified as Siam. The attack unfolded amid heightened tensions ahead of BNP leader Tarique Rahman’s return from London exile, with the party planning a massive welcome rally for the son of former PM Begum Khaleda Zia.
Eyewitnesses described chaos as the blast detonated on impact during peak evening hours, leaving Siam critically injured and bleeding to death at the scene. Attackers fled immediately, prompting Dhaka Metropolitan Police to cordon off the area for investigation. “The motive remains unclear; all angles are under probe,” officials stated, as political observers warned the incident could dampen rally turnout.
Dhaka residents, already on edge from recent mob violence and political killings, braced for fallout. In a related development, Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam reaffirmed the interim government’s ban on Awami League participation in the February 12 polls, suspending its activities and registration indefinitely despite US lawmakers’ calls for inclusive elections.
