A blast inside a locked room used by a mosque imam caused significant damage to the structure at a village mosque in Madaripur, with part of the corrugated metal fencing and roofing blown away. Furniture and other belongings inside the room were also burnt in the incident.
The explosion occurred at Al-Aqsa Jame Mosque at the house of Malek Akon in Hogolpatia village, under Madaripur Sadar upazila, on Tuesday evening. No casualties have been reported.
According to local residents and police, mosque imam Mohammad Akash had left for his home on leave two days before the incident. His accommodation at the mosque was subsequently kept locked, while the keys were reportedly held by several members of the mosque committee.
On Tuesday, worshippers left the mosque after performing the Asr prayer. A short while later, residents heard a loud explosion coming from the locked room. The sudden noise prompted people from nearby homes to rush to the mosque to find out what had happened.
When they arrived, they found that part of the room’s corrugated metal roof had been blown away and sections of the fencing had been damaged. Several items inside the room had caught fire and were destroyed.
The circumstances surrounding the blast have raised questions among local residents, particularly because the room had reportedly remained locked while the imam was away. Some residents believe an explosive device may have been placed inside the room before it was locked. However, there is no confirmed information yet about who may have placed it or why.
Several people, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that the device may have been connected to a planned clash arising from a dispute over local influence. They accused members of the Akon family of placing a bomb inside the mosque and called for those responsible to be brought to justice. The allegation, however, has not been independently established.
Hakim Akon rejected the accusation. He said they did not know who had placed the explosive in the mosque and suggested that someone could have carried out the incident in an attempt to implicate them. He called for a proper investigation by the authorities.
Malek Akon, a member of the mosque committee, also said they were unaware of how an explosive could have been placed inside the imam’s room. He pointed out that the consequences could have been far more serious had the explosion occurred while worshippers were inside the mosque.
Madaripur Sadar police said officers visited the scene after receiving information about the incident. Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad said investigators were examining who might have placed the device and what the motive could have been. Police are also looking into whether the incident was connected to any form of sabotage.
Investigators are examining the evidence recovered from the scene and the nature of the explosion to establish what happened. Police have stressed that it would be premature to identify those responsible or determine the motive before the investigation is completed.
The incident has caused concern in the locality, particularly because the explosion occurred inside a mosque compound and involved a room that was reportedly locked. The investigation is expected to clarify how the explosive entered the room and whether the blast was deliberate.
