Blast inside Uttara RAB camp kills presumed suicide bomber

A presumed militant today blew himself up in what it appeared a suicide attack inside a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) complex near Uttara Hajj Camp, officials and witnesses said.

"It was an incident of suicide bombing," RAB spokesman Commander Mufti Mahmud Khan told newsmen in an initial briefing at the scene, earmarked for constructing the elite anti-crime force`s headquarters.

He added that the blast wounded two RAB men who were being treated at the nearby Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka Cantonment.

Khan said the attack appeared to be an act of any militant outfit but it was not clear immediately which of the Islamist outfits staged it.

"Right now we are, however, concentrating our attention to ascertain if the complex and the neighbourhood are secured," he said as police`s counter terrorism unit with bomb disposal team reached the scene while thoroughfares around the complex were blocked for vehicular movements.

The spokesman confirmed witnesses accounts that the suicide bomber, aged about 27, sneaked into the complex crossing the wall and exploded a powerful bomb as several RAB men gathered at a common bathing place there ahead of Jumma payers.

Another official told BSS that the suicide bomber was challenged by the RAB men inside the bathing place as he entered there on the plea of performing ablution, an act of washing oneself ahead of prayers.

"As he was approached by two of our men, detonated his suicide vest, killing him instantly and injuring the two personnel," Commander Mohamad Shoaib said.

The incident came a day after four suspected militants were killed in an encounter with elite police units including RAB at Sitakunda on the outskirts of Chittagong.

Source : BSS