Public safety incident

At least three people were injured after a reported bomb explosion struck a rally organised by Bangladesh’s newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP) in Savar, near Dhaka, on Monday night.The explosion occurred at around 9.45 pm while a post-march rally was underway at the Savar Thana Stand Eidgah field, the NCP said in a statement issued on Monday night.“Terrorists detonated a bomb at the post-march rally venue of the NCP in Savar. The explosion took place at around 9.45 pm on Monday while the rally was underway at the Savar Thana Stand Eidgah field," the party said, as quoted by ANI.
No further details about the condition of the injured or those behind the explosion were immediately available.The reported explosion took place on the first day of the NCP’s July March, a nationwide campaign organised by the newly formed political party.The rally was led by students who had opposed former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the student movement that eventually led to sweeping political changes in the country.The July March had been organised to press for the implementation of a referendum, creation of jobs, resolution of the country’s power crisis, control of rising commodity prices and stronger border protection.The National Citizen Party had earlier announced plans to carry out the march across Bangladesh throughout July.According to a Times of India report, the month-long campaign is aimed at mobilising public support across the country.The July March coincides with the second anniversary of the student protests that ultimately led to Sheikh Hasina’s removal from power.Sheikh Hasina left for India on August 5, 2024. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on April 17 this year that it is officially reviewing a formal request for the extradition of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through established legal and judicial channels.According to the Times of India, the political upheaval that resulted in Hasina’s departure has widely been referred to as the “July Revolution", following the student-led protests that reshaped Bangladesh’s political landscape.