Panic erupted in the Dakshin Thakurpara area of Comilla city on Saturday evening (March 7) when masked assailants hurled improvised explosives at the Kali Gachtala Shiva Temple, critically injuring a priest and three others as they fled detonating additional cocktails
Notably, crude improvised explosive devices (IEDs), are commonly known in South Asia as “Molotov cocktails” or homemade bombs.
According to CCTV footage and witnesses, the attack occurred around 6.28 pm at the temple located in the South Thakurpara (Baganbari) area where devotees, including women and children, had gathered at the temple for a weekly Shani puja, the Daily Star reported.
CCTV footage of the incident shows a masked individual approaching the temple carrying a bag at approximately 6:28 pm. Several accomplices were seen standing nearby, apparently acting as lookouts.
The man placed the bag at the temple premises before fleeing, after which a powerful explosion rocked the area, spreading panic among devotees, residents, and pedestrians.
As per local reports, Priest Keshab Chakraborty, who was conducting prayers at the time, sustained injuries from the blast and was admitted to Comilla Medical College Hospital for treatment.
As the attackers fled, they reportedly detonated two additional cocktails, one in front of a nearby Buddhist temple and another outside a BRAC office, causing further injuries and widespread fear.
Three more individuals were injured in these blasts, including Abdul Barek, son of Sujat Ali, and Jihad, son of Nazrul Islam, both residents of Thakurpara Baganbari.
The identity of the third injured person has not yet been confirmed. All victims were rushed to Comilla General Hospital and Comilla Medical College Hospital for emergency treatment.
A 2-minute 15-second video of the attack circulated widely on social media, drawing condemnation from local residents and community leaders.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and local police, responded promptly, securing the area and collecting CCTV evidence.
Kotwali Model Police Station OC Md Touhidul Anwar confirmed that the authorities are working to identify and apprehend those responsible, the CCTV footage has been collected. The matter is under investigation.
Police said the motive and perpetrators are not yet known. The operation to arrest those involved is ongoing, and the full details will be revealed after the arrests.
The attack on a place of worship has heightened concerns about communal harmony and the safety of religious minorities in the region.
As investigators continue analyzing CCTV footage and gathering witness statements, the community awaits answers regarding the motive behind the attack and the identities of those seeking to disrupt the area’s long-standing peaceful coexistence.