Bomb found inside pressure cooker in Ashulia

After the ‘umbrella bomb’ found in Dhaka, a ‘pressure cooker’ bomb has now been found inside a bag left in front of a shop in Ashulia. A bomb disposal team from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) went to the scene and defused it.

Although the bomb was found Thursday night, Ashulia Police Station Officer in Charge (OC) Tarikul Islam confirmed the incident at around 3 pm Friday. A case has also been filed under the Explosives Act at Ashulia Police Station.

Police said a masked man came to the grocery store in the Charabag area of Ashulia around midnight Thursday. He bought a soft drink and gave the shopkeeper Tk 200. As the shopkeeper did not have enough change, he went to a nearby store to break the money. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the unidentified man left the travel bag he was carrying at the shop and walked away.

When no one returned to collect the bag even after a long time, local residents became suspicious. They opened the bag and found a pressure cooker wrapped in scotch tape. They informed Ashulia Police Station. Police arrived and cordoned off the area. After an initial examination, members of the police confirmed that there was a bomb inside the pressure cooker.

The Metropolitan Police Bomb Disposal Unit was informed, and a specialist team arrived at the scene. At 6:22 am Friday, the pressure cooker was taken to a nearby open field and placed in a hole dug in the ground. The bomb was then defused through a special procedure.

Police, quoting members of the Bomb Disposal Unit, said the bomb was quite powerful. Ashulia Police Station OC Tarikul said efforts are underway to identify and arrest the unidentified person by analyzing CCTV footage. Several police teams have been deployed in the field.

Earlier, an unexploded bomb was found inside an umbrella beneath the Motijheel Metro Station in the capital late Friday night. The DMP Bomb Disposal Unit later detonated and defused it.