Dhaka, June 24 (V7N) – A crude bomb, commonly known as a cocktail, was hurled at leaders and activists of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) on Monday night outside the party’s temporary central office in Dhaka’s Bangla Motor area, injuring at least four people. The incident took place around 10:40 PM beneath the Rupayan Trade Center, where the office is located.

According to an official statement by NCP, the explosion occurred just as several members, including the party’s Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, were gathered outside the building. Though Hossain was present at the scene, he was unharmed.

The party reported that the attack was followed by an immediate protest march by NCP leaders and activists in the area. Notably, a similar explosion had taken place at the same location the night before, raising concerns about a pattern of politically motivated violence.

Salah Uddin Sifat, NCP’s Joint Member Secretary for Office Affairs, told V7N, “An unidentified assailant detonated a cocktail bomb right in front of our office. Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain was standing nearby at the time. We are giving the law enforcement agencies 24 hours to identify and arrest the attackers. Failure to disarm this fascist and criminal network will call into question the competence of both the police and military officers tasked with ensuring national security.”

Eyewitnesses claim that as Hossain stepped outside the building, he was surrounded by around 50 to 60 supporters. Just as the traffic light at Bangla Motor turned green, a white microbus reportedly slowed down and a bomb was thrown directly toward the gathering. The vehicle then quickly sped away from the scene.

Ariful Islam Adib, NCP’s Senior Joint Convenor, confirmed that while the device did not hit anyone directly, it exploded dangerously close to several individuals. Among those injured were Shafiqul Islam, a central organizer of NCP’s labor wing; Sumon Hossain, senior joint member secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s Hazaribagh unit; Monir, an office staffer; and several other activists who were standing near the blast site.

NCP’s Joint Member Secretary Zainal Abedin Shishir later identified the injured as Shafiqul Islam, Abdur Rob (a central organizer of NCP’s youth wing), Sumon Hossain, and Asif Uddin Samrat, a Dhaka Metropolitan leader of the party.

Responding to the incident, Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman Patwari of Ramna Police Station told local media that police forces were immediately dispatched to the site. He confirmed that the situation had been brought under control shortly after their arrival.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that the bomb was thrown from a private vehicle, after which it detonated near the crowd. The injured were taken to various hospitals for treatment.

As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, NCP leaders have strongly condemned what they described as “a coordinated attempt to destabilize the country and silence democratic voices.” They have called on the government to take swift action to prevent further violence.

END/AJ/SMA/