A bomb disposal squad from the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has defused a live time bomb recovered from the shrine of Mystic Bard Fakir Lalon Shah in Cheuriya, Kushtia. The explosive device was discovered during the annual three-day festival commemorating Lalon’s 136th death anniversary, prompting widespread panic and causing scores of spiritual devotees to abandon the holy site.
The threat unfolded at around midnight on Sunday, 18 October 2026, during the second day of the festival. Officers stationed at the shrine’s control room were alerted by a devotee who spotted an unattended, suspicious bag inside the shrine premises. Police officers inspected the area and recovered a white bag containing a device wrapped in red adhesive tape, connected to two litres of petrol in plastic bottles, iron pipes, electrical wiring, and two electronic circuits.
Following the discovery, law enforcement authorities evacuated the inner courtyard of the shrine and locked the main entrance gates as a precautionary measure. A specialist bomb disposal team arrived from Dhaka at approximately 8:00 am on Monday, 19 October 2026. Experts examined the mechanism, formally classified it as an improvised time bomb, and safely rendered the device inert before any harm could occur.
Despite the successful neutralization of the explosive, the incident sparked significant distress and anger among visiting ascetics and pilgrims. Devotees accused local police of displaying initial indifference when alerted to the unattended bag. Kalpana Khatun, an eyewitness, stated that she immediately informed nearby police personnel upon noticing the suspicious parcel, but officers dismissed her warnings. She added that instead of swiftly investigating who planted the device, authorities forced hundreds of devotees out into the street overnight.
Another devotee, Golam Sarwar, recounted similar frustrations, explaining that he was shuffled between gate guards, control room officers, and plainclothes intelligence personnel before an officer finally inspected the site. Dismayed by the chaotic security response, numerous spiritual gurus and followers packed their belongings and departed Cheuriya ahead of the festival’s concluding day.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kumarkhali Police Station, Jamal Uddin, maintained that the police acted promptly once the threat level was assessed, stressing that the clearing of the shrine grounds was necessary to protect lives. Investigating officers are currently analyzing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from surrounding security cameras to identify those responsible for planting the device.
