CCTV footage was inconclusive, while evidence collected from the scene has been sent to Dhaka for examination

Barishal Correspondent:

The explosion near the main gate of the Barishal Judge Court premises this morning was caused by a crude bomb-like object that was likely thrown from outside to create panic, police said.

“Based on CCTV footage, witness statements and evidence collected from the scene, it initially appears that the explosion was caused by a crude bomb-like object thrown from outside,” Barishal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abu Raihan Mohammad Saleh said.

However, CCTV footage from the area was not clear enough to identify who had thrown the object, he added.

“We are sending all the evidence collected from the scene to Dhaka to determine the nature of the explosion. Hopefully, we will know more once we receive the report,” the police official said. “At this stage, we believe it may have been intended to create panic.”

The explosion occurred around 10:32am in front of the court building, near the main gate. No one was injured in the incident.

The blast triggered panic among litigants and lawyers present at the court. Law enforcement personnel later visited the scene and collected evidence for investigation.

Khaliur Rahman, in-charge of the Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) Crime Scene Unit, said his team had inspected the site and collected fragments and suspected explosive materials.

A CID official said no major destructive material had been found at the scene, suggesting the incident may have been intended primarily to spread panic rather than cause harm.

BMP Deputy Commissioner Sushanta Sarkar said a meeting was underway with the district judge and sessions judges to review security arrangements at the court.

Security has been tightened across the court premises since the blast. A large contingent of police personnel cordoned off the area, while litigants entered the court amid visible anxiety. Court sources said judicial proceedings continued despite the incident.

The blast came days after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in Bakerganj upazila on August 3, seriously injuring three members of a family. Investigation into that incident is still under way.