Four killed in Bangladesh Eid congregation attack (Third Lead)

Four people were killed on Thursday in an attack aimed at a police contingent guarding the Sholakia Ground in Kishoreganj district, just before prayers began at Bangladesh's largest Eid congregation.

Police said at least 13 other persons were injured in the blasts at Azimuddin High School gate, a kilometre away from the ground, around 9 a.m.

Abu Sayem, Additional Superintendent of Police in Kishoreganj, told the Daily Star that four victims were two police constables, a woman and an attacker.

Constable Jahurul Haque, 30, was pronounced dead after he was rushed to a hospital. Constable Ansarullah also died in the hospital, bdnews24 reported.

Witnesses said over 300,000 Muslims, who had gathered at Sholakia to offer the Eid prayers, were trapped in the middle of sporadic gunshots being fired between cops and the attacker militants.

Such an attack on Eid is said to be first time in Bangladesh. It was not known immediately who launched the attack.

However, the prayers were not disrupted.

Police said another suspect with bullet wounds was detained from the spot and taken to the hospital for treatment.

The blasts follow the deadliest terror attack in Bangladesh on July 1, the killing of 20 hostages, mostly foreigners, at an upscale restaurant in the heart of the capital's diplomatic estate.

--IANS

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