Monday, Sep 06, 2004
U.S. bomb experts to help Dhaka
By Haroon Habib
DHAKA, SEPT. 5. A powerful bomb exploded today in an old building near the cantonment of the north-eastern Sylhet town, leaving two persons dead and seven wounded. The condition of four of them was stated to be critical. Security personnel rushed to the area and cordoned off the scene.
This is the fifth blast this year in the holy city of the Muslim saint Hazrat Shahjalal. Blasts in Sylhet since May have killed 10 persons and injured over 250, including the British High Commissioner, Anwar Choudhury.
Reports said Sunday's blast blew up the roof of the building and caused a large hole in the ground. No details regarding the incident could be obtained though some sources said the explosive was thrown into the building from the outside while others thought the bomb had gone off while being made.
The blast coincided with the visit to Dhaka by a top U.S. counter-terrorism expert, J. Cofer Black, who is here to help the Government investigate the deadly grenade attack on an Opposition rally on August 21 that killed 20 persons and wounded over 300.
CIA veteran
Mr. Black, who has had a 28-year stint in the CIA, met the Opposition leader, Sheikh Hasina, and the Foreign Minister, Morshed Khan, among others. Around 20 top leaders of the Awami League, who were seriously injured in the grenade attack are at present receiving advanced medical care in Kolkata and New Delhi.
Meanwhile, after examining the audio and videotapes of the August 21 bombings, Interpol investigators have identified some suspects. Police arrested one person, Abdur Rahman, from the city's posh Uttara area and seized a German-made pistol and 13 cartridges from him. More Interpol members as well as FBI agents may arrive in Dhaka within a couple of days for taking follow-up action on the report of the investigating team, sources said.
The FBI's forensic expert, Gibson Wilson, is continuing his investigations.
Probes rejected
The Awami League has turned down all the investigations being carried out by the Government into the grenade attack, and renewed its demand for an international probe. "Only a neutral international investigation can unmask the faces of the real culprits." The Awami League's general secretary, Abdul Jalil, told a press conference that the Government was trying to mislead the people.
Copyright © 2004, The Hindu.