A chilling act of violence rocked Bangladesh’s capital on the evening of December 24, when a powerful crude bomb, thrown from the Moghbazar flyover, exploded on the road below, killing a young man on the spot and sending panic through the crowded intersection.
The victim has been identified as 21-year-old Siam Majumder, a local resident who worked at Zahid Car Decoration, an automobile accessories shop in the Moghbazar area. According to police, the incident occurred at around 7:10 pm near the Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Central Command, a location that typically sees heavy traffic and pedestrian movement during evening hours.
Confirming the incident, Ramna Division Deputy Police Commissioner Masud Alam said unknown attackers hurled a high-intensity improvised explosive device, commonly described as a cocktail bomb, from the flyover above the intersection.
“The crude bomb was thrown from the flyover and fell onto the road below. The youth was hit by the explosive and died instantly,” the senior police officer said, adding that the force of the blast left no chance for survival.
Preliminary findings suggest that the bomb struck Siam on the head before exploding, causing fatal injuries at the spot. He was pronounced dead before any medical assistance could be provided.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and horror moments after the blast. Faruk, a tea-stall owner at the intersection, said Siam had just come to his stall for a cup of tea.
“I was about to wash the cups when suddenly there was a loud explosion,” Faruk told local media. “I saw Siam fall to the ground. Blood was coming out of his head, and his brain matter was scattered. People started screaming and running in fear.”
Several bystanders reportedly fled the area, fearing more explosions, while others rushed to help before realising the severity of the injuries.
Police said Siam had stepped out briefly from his workplace to buy snacks from a nearby shop when he was caught in the deadly blast. There is no indication so far that he was the intended target of the attack, raising concerns that the bombing may have been indiscriminate.
“Siam appears to be an innocent bystander who was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” a police official said, adding that investigators are examining whether the attack was aimed at creating panic or targeting a specific location.
Following the explosion, agencies quickly cordoned off the Moghbazar intersection and adjoining roads. Bomb disposal units and forensic teams were deployed to collect evidence, including remnants of the explosive device, to determine its composition and origin.
Senior police officials visited the site late in the evening, and additional security was deployed in the surrounding areas to prevent further incidents.
“We are working to identify those responsible and to establish the motive behind this attack,” Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam said. “All possible angles are being examined.”
