Keraniganj madrasa blast: Bomb-making materials seized, police looking for two suspects

Police have recovered around 400 litres of liquid chemicals and cocktail-like explosive materials following an explosion at a madrasa building in South Keraniganj, Dhaka, and are searching for Al Amin Sheikh alias Rajib and Mufti Harun in connection with the incident.

The information was disclosed at a press conference held today (27 December) at the South Keraniganj Police Station, where Dhaka District Superintendent of Police Md Mizanur Rahaman briefed reporters on the investigation.

The explosion occurred around 11am on Friday at Ummal Quran International Madrasa in the Hasnabad area of South Keraniganj, leaving four people injured, including Al Amin Sheikh, his wife Asiya Begum, and their two children.

Mizanur Rahaman said the blast prompted the immediate involvement of the Anti-Terrorism Unit, while the CID Crime Scene Unit declared the site a crime scene.

"The Fire Service has inspected the location but has not yet submitted a written report. However, we found a large stock of chemicals and cocktail-like explosive materials at the site," the police superintendent said.

"Al Amin Sheikh, alias Rajib, aged 32, took his injured wife and children to a local hospital following the explosion. They were later referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, but Al Amin left the hospital after admitting them and went into hiding," he added. 

During the search operation, police recovered a computer monitor, multiple containers of liquid chemicals, and four cocktail-like explosive devices from the building, said Mizanur Rahaman.

According to police records, the madrasa had been operated since 2022 by Al Amin Sheikh, alias Rajib, and his wife, Asiya Begum, after it was handed over to them by Mufti Harun, who had previously run the institution. The building has four rooms, two of which were used for madrasa activities, while the remaining two were used as living quarters by Al Amin and his family.

Police said three women have been arrested so far in connection with the incident. They include Asiya Begum, Yasmin Akhter (wife of Al Amin's elder brother), and Asmani Khatun, who was arrested from Basabo in Dhaka based on interrogation leads.

Police sources said preliminary findings suggest that explosive vests were being prepared at the madrasa using hydrogen peroxide and other materials to produce TATP, a highly volatile explosive often used in suicide attacks. 

Police said the main suspect, Al Amin Sheikh, had previously been arrested in 2017 in Narayanganj under the Anti-Terrorism Act and was also named in another case in Bagerhat. According to police records, a total of seven cases have been filed against him in different police stations across the country.

When asked whether Al Amin had links to any extremist organisations, SP Mizanur Rahaman said no such connection has been confirmed so far.

"Initial interrogation indicates that several cases have been filed against him around Dhaka. We are continuing our investigation," he said.

He added that Al Amin had been arrested twice and served time in prison. After securing bail in 2023, he reportedly worked as an autorickshaw driver for a period and was most recently driving for Uber, according to police.

Police said Mufti Harun, who had rented the building and earlier operated the madrasa before handing it over to Al Amin, is also being sought for questioning.

Mufti Harun is also in hiding, they said. 

South Keraniganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Alam said the operation of apprehending both of them is ongoing.

Locals said around 50 students studied at the madrasa, but it was closed on Friday due to the weekly holiday. As a result, no students were present at the time of the explosion.

Residents of neighbouring buildings reported damage caused by the blast. Humayun Kabir, who lives next door, said he lost consciousness after bricks fell on him during the explosion.

Building owner Parveen Begum said Mufti Harun had run the madrasa for about three years before handing over its management to his brother-in-law Al Amin.

"I had no idea what was happening inside in the name of a madrasa," she said.

Police said a general diary has been filed and a case will be filed in connection with the incident.