Suspected petrol bomb found near Lalon shrine in Kushtia

Police recovered a suspected petrol bomb, two petrol-filled bottles and other suspicious items near the main entrance of Fakir Lalon Shah’s shrine in Kushtia early Monday, prompting heightened security ahead of the final day of a three-day programme marking the mystic poet’s 136th death anniversary.
The items were found beside a coconut tree on the right side of the shrine’s main entrance around 1am. The suspected explosive device was defused at 10am, police said. Kumarkhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jamal Uddin said the seized items included two petrol-filled bottles, two small metal canisters and a device fitted with electric wires.
According to police and local residents, sadhus staying at the shrine spotted a white bag near the entrance late Sunday night. After finding suspicious objects inside, they informed police.
Police rushed to the scene and moved the sadhus to safety. A four-member bomb disposal team from the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police later arrived and defused the device.
The discovery triggered panic around the shrine and nearby areas. Authorities subsequently tightened security at Akhra Bari, deploying additional police personnel and two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh members. 
Kushtia Superintendent of Police Aminul Islam said the device appeared to have been intended to spread panic and could have caused a major fire had it exploded.
OC Jamal Uddin said police were investigating the incident to identify those responsible. The suspects and their motives remain unknown, and legal action will be taken following the investigation.