DHAKA, Sep 1, 2019 (BSS) – Awami League general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader today said the bomb attack on police personnel in the capital’s Science Laboratory area might be a test case before carrying out any big attack.
“The Science Laboratory blast was a remote controlled attack . . . It might be a test case for carrying out any big attack,” Quader said, quoting the investigation report of detectives.
Briefing the journalists at his secretariat office, the minister said police are investigating the attack and they are on alert as the country earlier witnessed militant attacks on Holey Artisan Cafe, in Gulshan and Sholakia of Kishoreganj.
Asked whether there are any militant forces in the country, Quader replied in the positive, saying, “The militant forces have become weak but have not been rooted out yet. Militancy is not only a problem of Bangladesh but also a global issue.”
On journalists’ query about Islamic State’s (IS) claim over yesterday’s bombing, the AL general secretary said investigation into the matter is going on and a concrete comment is not possible at the moment.
Two policemen, including security personnel of LGRD Minister Tazul Islam, were injured when a bomb went off at Science Lab intersection at about 9:30 pm last night.
Later, the Middle East based militant outfit Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the bomb attack.
Replying to another question, Quader said the LGRD minister was not the target of Saturday’s attack as same kinds of attacks were carried out at Malibagh, Gulistan and Khejurbagan near Jatiya Sangsad complex earlier.
The bridges minister lauded the role of law enforcement agencies in combating militancy in Bangladesh and hoped that they would be able to find out the militant quarter.
About India’s Assam situation, the senior AL leader said citizenship issue is their internal matter and no comment would be preferable in this connection.
“Conspiracy still continues against Bangladesh . . . The government is on alert,” he added.
About the upcoming triennial council of Awami League, the party general secretary said the date was fixed in October next and necessary preparation is underway.
When journalists wanted to know his (Quader) assessment on BNP’s founding anniversary, the AL general secretary expressed his good wishes on the occasion and called upon the BNP leaders to shun negative politics and do positive politics.