World War II Mortar Shell Recovered

A suspected Second World War-era mortar shell has been recovered from the roadside in Panchagarh Sadar Upazila after labourers initially mistook it for buried treasure. The incident occurred in the Satmera Union’s Jhitkikhura area, prompting a swift response from local police and raising concern among residents.

According to police and local sources, the explosive device was discovered on Wednesday (17 June) shortly before midnight. A team from Panchagarh Sadar Police Station, led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Chandan Kumar Roy, recovered the shell from beside a paved road near the residence of a local man named Salam in Jhitkikhura village.

Preliminary accounts indicate that a group of labourers working near the Chilka River, close to the Majhipara bridge in Satmera Union, came across the object while extracting sand and stones. The labourers, including Anwar Hossain (28), Ferdous (24), and Mominul Islam (30), initially believed the object to be a valuable artefact or “buried treasure”. They reportedly transported it to their homes and attempted to clean it. However, after closer inspection, they realised it was an old military shell and subsequently left it abandoned beside the roadside in Jhitkikhura.

Once the discovery became known locally, it created considerable concern in the area. Authorities were then informed, and police quickly arrived at the scene. The shell was secured and transported to Panchagarh Sadar Police Station for safe custody.

Officer-in-Charge of Panchagarh Sadar Police Station, Ashraful Islam, confirmed the sequence of events and the recovery operation. He stated that the labourers had initially retrieved the object from the Chilka River area during sand and stone extraction activities, mistakenly assuming it to be something valuable before abandoning it upon realising its nature.

Police have stated that the mortar shell is believed to be very old, and based on preliminary assessment, it is thought to be a weapon used during the Second World War. However, officials have not confirmed its exact origin.

Authorities have confirmed that the Rangpur Bomb Disposal Unit will be called in to carry out controlled deactivation of the device before any further steps are taken regarding its disposal or investigation.

Incident Summary

The recovery highlights ongoing risks associated with unidentified explosive remnants that may still be found in riverbeds and excavation sites, particularly in areas where construction and resource extraction activities are common. Authorities have reiterated the importance of reporting such discoveries immediately rather than handling or transporting them.