About 400 small bombs, suspected to have been planted by an Islamic militant outfit, exploded almost simultaneously in cities and towns across Bangladesh today killing at least two persons, including a child, and injuring 138.A nationwide security alert was sounded immediately after the explosions, which occurred between 11.00 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. (local time), targetting government offices, courts and press clubs in all but one of the 64 districts across Bangladesh.No organisation claimed the responsibility, though police suspect the involvement of outlawed militant outfit Jamiat ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, after recovering leaflets under its name from the blast sites. At least 46 suspects have been arrested so far, sources said. ‘‘This is not a scattered incident, but an organised one,’’ State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Baber told reporters at his office. ‘‘We had intelligence reports about such an incident, but that time had expired,’’ he said, referring to reports of the possible attacks on August 14, 15 or 16.Local journalists reported explosions in Dhaka, southwestern Khulna city, northeastern Sylhet city, and a dozen other places where bombs exploded in or around local courts as well as government offices. Police said bombs also exploded near Dhaka’s Zia International Airport.Leaflets found at the sites of the blasts said, ‘‘It is time to implement Islamic law in Bangladesh. There is no future with man-made law,’’ US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair were ‘‘warned (to) get out of Muslim countries’’.While calling on the people, government and political parties to implement ‘‘Allah’s laws’’, the leaflets said current ‘‘laws are formulated by infidels. We will help you in implementing Allah’s laws. We do not want power.’’ The Jamiat ul-Mujahideen was banned earlier this year along with another group, the Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh. The two groups were accused of being behind a series of bomb blasts, including those at two local aid agencies.Officials did not say what kind of bombs exploded today, TV footage showed batteries strapped together in plastic bags. The explosions came at a time when PM Khaleda Zia was away in China on a five-day visit focussing on trade. —PTI
