Two Bangladeshi ministers escape bomb attacks

Two Bangladeshi ministers escaped unhurt when bombs were thrown at the convoy of one and at the residence of the other, media reports said Monday.

At least three crude bombs were hurled at the vehicle of Syed Ashraful Islam, the minister of local government, rural development and cooperatives, on the outskirts of Dhaka when he was on way to his constituency in Kishoreganj district, bdnews24.com reported. No one was injured in the attack.

Islam is also the general secretary of the ruling Awami League.

"No one was hurt but some glasses of a few cars in the motorcade were broken," the report quoted police as saying.

At least four bombs were hurled at Commerce Minister Ghulam Muhammad Quader's residence Monday, The Daily Star online reported.

The minister was not at his home during the attack.

The Election Commission last week announced that the country's 10th parliamentary elections will be held Jan 5, 2014, triggering widespread protests by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina has said the polls would be held on schedule despite the continuous protests.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, a former prime minister, has asked Sheikh Hasina to bring back the non-party caretaker system or the opposition would not participate in the next elections because it fears the polls will not be free and fair.

Both parties are seeking a dialogue to end the impasse over the formation of a caretaker government to conduct the polls, but no headway has been made so far.