Police Foil Motijheel Pipe Bomb Plot targeting Ultarath Yatra

An improvised explosive device (IED) constructed with a galvanised iron pipe, battery, electrical circuitry, and lethal ball bearings was discovered along the procession route of the Hindu festival Ultarath Yatra near Motijheel Metro Rail Station in Dhaka.

To prevent widespread panic and chaos, police officers on duty quickly managed the crowd by attributing the glowing, umbrella-covered object to an electrical short circuit. They promptly rerouted the procession to a safer path before bringing in specialised bomb disposal experts to neutralize the device through a controlled explosion.

Unfolding Crisis Under the Metro Station

According to the case files registered at Motijheel Police Station, the incident occurred during the annual Ultarath Yatra—the return procession marking the conclusion of the Rath Yatra festival. The colourful procession, which began at the Dhakeshwari National Temple, was en route to the Iskcon Ashram in Swamibag via Shapla Chattar.

At around 6:00 pm, traffic officials alerted the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Control Room after noticing a suspicious glowing object concealed beneath a discarded umbrella under the Motijheel Metro Rail Station.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Md. Mukta, who was stationed along the route to oversee security operations, responded alongside a police team that quickly cordoned off the immediate perimeter. As the large religious gathering approached the site, officers took swift action. Describing the situation as a minor electrical short circuit, police diverted the procession onto an alternative route to ensure public safety without triggering a stampede or widespread panic.

Controlled Explosion and Forensic Recovery

Once the procession cleared the area, the Bomb Disposal Unit of the DMP’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit arrived at the scene. At approximately 8:00 pm, technicians carried out a controlled explosion to safely neutralize the high-intensity pipe bomb.

Forensic evidence gathered from the blast site pointed towards a sophisticated improvised device designed to inflict maximum harm. Seized items included:

• Fragments of a galvanised iron (GI) pipe

• Storage battery and electronic circuit boards

• Electric wiring

• Numerous steel bearing balls used as shrapnel

The force of the controlled detonation produced flying debris, which struck a 66-year-old passer-by, Miraj Ahmed. He sustained an injury to his left eye and received emergency first aid before being transferred to the National Institute of Ophthalmology for specialised treatment.

Police Investigation and Security Measures

SI Md. Mukta subsequently filed a formal case under the Explosive Substances Act against unidentified individuals at Motijheel Police Station. Senior police officials suspect that the device was placed deliberately to target the Ultarath Yatra gathering and trigger a major disaster.

Dhaka’s law enforcement agencies maintain a heightened state of alert around public religious celebrations. Investigating officers are currently examining local closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage around the Metro Rail Station to identify the individuals responsible for leaving the explosive device.