UPDATE: 3 detained over cocktail explosions in DU area

Several cocktail explosions were reported at different locations on and around the Dhaka University (DU) campus in the capital on Sunday evening, leaving a university shuttle bus driver injured.

Police detained three people over the incidents.

The explosions occurred within minutes of each other, starting at around 6:30pm.

According to eyewitnesses and sources at the university's Proctor's Office, explosions were heard at several locations, including the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC), in front of the DUCSU building and Senate building, the field of Haji Muhammad Muhsin Hall, the university's main entrance, Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall and Jagannath Hall, and the Nilkhet intersection.

A shuttle bus driver named Junaid was reportedly injured in an explosion near Nilkhet.

Meanwhile, Saif Ullah, sports secretary of the Dhaka University unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, claimed that two people were initially detained following an explosion near the TSC metro station.

Speaking to Daily Waadaa, Saif said Chhatra Dal leaders and activists were sitting and chatting at the TSC when they heard an explosion beneath the metro rail.

They rushed to the spot and, with the help of passers-by, stopped two people before informing Shahbagh Police Station.

Police later arrived and took the two into custody.

Saif claimed that after visiting the police station and making inquiries, they learned that the detainees were from Gopalganj.

He said they suspected the detainees were Awami League activists.

He added that neither of them carried a smartphone, making it difficult to collect detailed information.

He also claimed that another group of Chhatra Dal activists had detained a person in front of Jagannath Hall and handed him over to the police through the university's proctorial team.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shahbagh Police Station Moniruzzaman confirmed the identities of the three detainees.

They are Md Rezaul Karim, 42, Md Sohel Rana, 33, and Najmus Saad, 33.

According to police, Rezaul Karim is from Bilkathor Madhyapara in Gurudaspur upazila of Natore and currently lives in Fakirapul under Motijheel Police Station in Dhaka.

Sohel Rana hails from Khutipara in Baneshwar Bazar, Puthia upazila of Rajshahi.

Najmus Saad is from Kochapara in Kotalipara upazila of Gopalganj and resides near Lalbagh Fort in Dhaka.

Speaking to Waadaa, OC Moniruzzaman said messages had been sent to the police stations concerned to collect detailed information about the detainees.

Their mobile phones had also been sent to a specialised team for examination.

He said further details about the detainees would be available after the police received information from the respective police stations and the mobile phone examination reports.

Meanwhile, DU Assistant Proctor Professor Dr Shantu Barua told Waadaa that the Proctor's Office had received reports of cocktail explosions at the TSC, in front of the Senate building and the DUCSU building, and beside the Azimpur graveyard adjacent to Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall.

However, he said the office had not received any reports of casualties.

He added that immediately after the incidents, the relevant department had been instructed to examine CCTV footage. Police were also investigating the matter, he said, adding that the university authorities would conduct a more detailed review of the incidents.