At least two people were killed and 30 others injured Thursday in the second human bomb attack by suspected Islamic militants in two days in Bangladesh, even as scores were injured in skirmishes during the nationwide general strike called by lawyers to protest the killings.
Meanwhile, the death toll in Tuesday's twin bomb attacks in Gazipur and Chittagong rose to 11 Thursday when a suspected militant who lost both his legs and an arm succumbed to injuries at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital.
Thursday's attack, again in Gazipur district, was carried out by a man aged about 22 years, who had strapped the bomb on his left leg. The bomb went off at around 11:42 am as police checked those entering the district administrator's office.
One person died of his injuries later at a hospital, a journalist at the scene told PTI, while UNB news agency reported the second death at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Many of the injured, including policemen, lawyers and journalists are undergoing treatment in the hospital.
A leaflet found from the injured human bomber warned government officials and journalists to come to the path of Allah and to "beg for life from only Allah and not men".
"It is a difficult situation. They (militants) are evolving new tactics in carrying out their terrorist activities," Police Chief Abdul Qayyum told reporters.
Qayyum said supected Islamic militants arrested in a nation-wide swoop following Tuesday attacks were "half-educated" and trained to "establish" Allah's laws.
"Basically they are grassroots militants, but we still don't know the actual mission of their top leaders," he said.
Meanwhile, following a bomb threat made to an official through telephone, security at the Foreign Ministry was further tightened Thursday, UNB reported.
Several opposition activists and lawyers were injured in clashes with police during the nationwide one-day general strike called by Supreme Court Bar Association protesting the grisly bomb attacks by Islamic militants.
Police also arrested four activists, witnesses said.
This is the first ever political action by the SCBA, who are seeking an end to the attacks on Bangladesh's judicial system. Two judges were bombed to death in October by militants seeking Islamic rule in Bangladesh.
Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed's opposition Awami League-led 14 party alliance and professional groups have backed the stoppage.
All modes of vehicles except rickshaws and few buses and motorcycles went off the streets and most of the shops and schools were closed.
Additional police have been deployed in the city for the action, but there were no reports of violence during the first hours of the shut down.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia postponed a planned official visit to the United Arab Emirates starting Saturday. She will join the Organisation of Islamic Conference summit in Makkah on December 7-8, Foreign Minister Morshed Khan said adding, that the postponement had no links to the domestic situation.