Midnight Blast at Candidate’s Home

An explosion believed to have been caused by crude petrol bombs struck the residence of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Moktar Ali in Keshabpur, within the Jessore-6 parliamentary constituency, in the early hours of Sunday. The incident, reported at approximately 1:10 a.m., has heightened anxiety among local residents and raised fresh concerns about the security environment ahead of polling in the area.

According to party officials and local administrators, two improvised explosive devices—commonly referred to as “cocktail bombs”—were hurled at the front of Mr Ali’s home on Bayesa Road in Keshabpur municipality. The blasts startled nearby households, drawing neighbours into the street. No injuries were reported, and there was no immediate evidence of significant property damage. However, the episode has intensified fears of intimidation during the campaign period.

At a press conference held on Monday at the municipal Jamaat office on Keshabpur’s main road, the candidate’s chief election agent, Saidur Rahman, condemned the attack as an attempt to undermine public confidence in the electoral process. He said the incident had created apprehension among voters and ordinary residents alike, and demanded swift and exemplary punishment for those responsible. Mr Rahman stopped short of naming any political group or individual, emphasising that the perpetrators should be identified through a transparent investigation rather than conjecture.

He further argued that such acts reflected a deterioration in law and order and were designed to frighten voters, suppress political participation, and intimidate a popular candidate supported by an 11-party electoral alliance. The campaign team submitted four demands to the civil administration and law-enforcement agencies: the immediate identification and arrest of those involved; an impartial, open investigation to uncover those who orchestrated the attack; visible and effective security measures for voters, candidates, and the general public throughout the election period in Keshabpur; and firm action to deter any attempts at voter intimidation.

On Monday afternoon, a crowd gathered outside Mr Ali’s home as residents discussed the overnight blasts. His son, Murshidul Maruf, said the family rushed outside after hearing the explosions but saw no suspects in the vicinity. Mr Ali confirmed that he contacted the officer-in-charge of Keshabpur police station immediately after the incident and requested round-the-clock security outside his residence.

Police said officers attended the scene promptly and recovered fragments consistent with the construction of crude explosive devices, including pieces of a tobacco tin and adhesive tape. The officer-in-charge, Shukdeb Roy, stated that an investigation is ongoing and that patrols in the area have been reinforced. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer, Reksana Khatun, confirmed that security forces assigned to election duties remain on heightened alert.

Incident Snapshot

Local civil society figures have urged all political actors to exercise restraint and cooperate with authorities to ensure a peaceful contest. With campaigning entering a sensitive phase, the incident has sharpened calls for visible policing and community reassurance measures to protect voters and candidates alike, and to uphold confidence in the integrity of the electoral process.