Khulna blast: three law enforcement agencies start investigation

The Anti-Terrorism Unit of Police, the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and the Detective Branch of police on Tuesday jointly started investigating Monday's bomb attack on an Awami League office in Khulna city.

After the blast, rumours have been rife on social media that the militant group Islamic State is responsible for the explosion.  

Brushing aside the rumours, Khulna Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khandaker Lutful Kabir said he knows nothing about Islamic State claiming responsibility for the explosion.

Moniruzzaman Mithu, the spokesperson for Khulna city police, said the police are giving utmost importance to the incident given the sensitivity of the issue.

Senior officials are overseeing the investigation for this reason, he said.

A case was being filed over the incident at the time of filing of this report in the evening. Police have not arrested anyone yet over the blast.  

On Monday evening, a bomb blast jolted a ward Awami League office in the Shiromoni area of Khulna city. Fortunately, no one was injured in the blast.

Residents of the area say that the local Awami League President Sheikh Abid Hossain and a few other leaders left the ruling party office in the area around 5:45pm to attend a meeting elsewhere. The bomb exploded shortly after Abid's departure.