The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff reporter

At least four persons were injured in an explosion yesterday in front of a market in the city's Gulistan area, which is about 200 metres from Awami League's central office.

Police could not immediately confirm the cause of the explosion, but said it may have been a "cocktail" blast.

Officer in charge of Shahbagh police station Rezaul Islam told newsmen "We don't believe it was a bomb."

The blast occurred at around 2 pm in front of Muktijoddha Market, another official source said. "We cannot say right now the cause of the explosion," he said adding "We are investigating."

Three of the injured were identified as Nasir Uddin, 45, a former Union Parishad chairman of Kachua in Bagerhat; Sheikh Nazrul Islam, 50, president of Bagerhat Bus Owners Association and Kartik Lal Das, 48, a passerby.

They were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The condition of Nasir Uddin was stated to be critical.

Witnesses at the hospital however, said there was another injured at the DMCH.

The fourth injured man was identified as Abdur Rashid, 58. He was also taken to DMCH later.

Sheikh Nazrul Islam, meanwhile, was released after primary treatment, Shahbagh police chief Rezaul Islam said.

He also said there was "no evidence" of any bomb.

Advocate Mir Shawkat Ali Badsah, a Bagerhat MP who had been to the place of occurrence told some newsmen that he had seen three people, including two from his constituency, lying there bleeding.

He said he had taken them to the DMCH immediate after the blast.

Nazrul Islam and Nasir Uddin were local Awami League leaders in his area, the MP said.