3 killed in attack on Eid congregation in BD town

DHAKA: Militants on Thursday attacked Bangladeshi police guarding an Eidul Fitr prayer service, killing three people and wounding 14, days after Islamic State claimed a major attack in the capital.

At least five militants launched an assault on police in Kishoreganj town, about 140km from Dhaka, with small bombs before setting upon them with ‘sharp weapons’, said chief district administrator, Mohammad Azimuddin Biswas.

One policeman was killed in a blast and another was stabbed to death. A woman was also killed. Six policemen were in a critical condition and had been flown to hospital in Dhaka.

Officials initially said two attackers were killed and three arrested, but there was confusion later about whether one of the three reported dead might have survived and be in hospital. There was no claim of responsibility.

Zillur Rahman, a district council administrator, said initial indications were the militants were young.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2016.