Bomb explosion near meeting venue of Bangla PM's son

Dhaka, May 15 (UNI) A powerful bomb exploded about 150 meters from a place in Bangladesh's southern Barisal district where Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's eldest son and ruling BNP leader Tarique Rahman was scheduled to address a meeting today.

Officer-in-charge of Muladi police station Mr Mahboob said the bomb explosion, which injured a woman occured in an abandoned house at about 1630 hours local time before the arrival of Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP Mr Rahman.

Injured Laizu Begum, 22, was admitted to a health complex.

Witnesses said the bomb blast blew away the roof of a tin-shed house and wounded Laizu Begum who was entering the house at the moment. Mr Mahboob added, it might have been a time bomb.

Soon after the blast police cordoned off the area. No one was immediately arrested.

Tarique Rahman was scheduled to meet his party workers in the Muladi college premises at 1800 hours local time. But preoccupied with other programmes, he arrived late at the meeting venue.

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