Cocktail Bomb Attack Sparks Fear at Plaintiff’s Home

A crude explosive attack targeting the residence of businessman Afroz Uddin in Mirpur has heightened concerns over the safety of witnesses and complainants involved in long-running criminal cases. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, with no casualties reported, though the attack caused panic among family members and residents in the area.

According to eyewitnesses and police sources, at around 12:30 pm, two unidentified assailants arrived on a battery-powered rickshaw and hurled a cocktail bomb towards Afroz Uddin’s residence before fleeing the scene. The explosive reportedly missed its intended target and landed on a pickup truck parked near the main entrance of the house. The resulting blast ignited a fire in the vehicle, prompting residents to use fire extinguishers to bring the flames under control before they could spread further.

Afroz Uddin is the complainant in the widely discussed murder case of his elder brother, businessman Aftab Uddin, who was killed in Mirpur more than two decades ago. Speaking to the media, Afroz said he immediately contacted the national emergency service and Mirpur Police Station after the attack. Police officers and members of the detective branch later visited the scene and collected evidence.

He alleged that individuals named in the murder case had repeatedly threatened him in an attempt to force him to withdraw the proceedings. Several general diary entries had previously been lodged with police regarding those threats. The murder case is currently being heard by Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal-3, where both Afroz and other witnesses have already testified.

Afroz further claimed that the latest attack was linked to longstanding efforts by accused individuals to intimidate witnesses and obstruct the judicial process. He alleged that a notorious fugitive criminal named in the case had been angered by recent developments in court and had continued attempts to threaten him and his family.

Mirpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Hafizur Rahman said investigators had received information suggesting that individuals connected to the murder case might have been involved in the attack. Police are reviewing closed-circuit television footage from nearby locations in an effort to identify and arrest those responsible. He added that Afroz Uddin may file a formal criminal case regarding the incident.

A Murder Case Spanning More Than Two Decades

The attack has renewed attention on the unresolved murder of businessman Aftab Uddin. On 25 December 2005, gunmen shot him near his residence in Mirpur Section-2. He succumbed to his injuries three days later while undergoing treatment in hospital.

At the time of his death, Aftab Uddin served as General Secretary of the management committee of Mukta Bangla Shopping Complex in Mirpur-1. He was also closely associated with the development of the market and owned several businesses there.

Following the killing, Afroz Uddin filed a murder case naming several alleged criminal figures and their associates. The complaint stated that Aftab had been targeted after refusing to pay a substantial extortion demand. An investigation later resulted in charges being brought against 19 individuals. While some accused were arrested, several were subsequently released on bail, and a number of others remain fugitives.

Court proceedings have faced repeated legal and administrative complications over the years. At one stage, the case was reportedly withdrawn after being classified as politically motivated, only to be revived later following legal challenges and court intervention. Subsequent disputes over jurisdiction and venue also delayed proceedings, prolonging the quest for justice.

The case remains at the witness testimony stage despite more than two decades having passed since the murder.

Adding a deeply human dimension to the prolonged legal battle is Aftab Uddin’s mother, 99-year-old Afroza Begum. Speaking emotionally, she expressed her wish to live long enough to witness justice for her son’s killing.

Afroz Uddin maintains that influential accused persons have repeatedly attempted to delay the trial through legal manoeuvres and intimidation. He fears that continued threats, including the latest bomb attack, are intended to discourage witnesses and derail the judicial process. With the case still unresolved after 21 years, he says uncertainty remains over whether justice will ultimately be delivered.