Officer-in-Charge of Rupsha Thana Shahadat Hossain escaped unhurt when the hand bombs exploded a few yards away from his pickup van at 8:35 pm on the day.

Police Superintendent (SP) Habibur Rahman told this correspondent unidentified miscreants threw four bombs aiming at the moving pick-up van where the OC and four constables were on routine patrol duty. There was no electricity in the area during the incident.

However, none was hurt or no damage to property was made, according to the SP.

The incident created panic in the area. All shops were closed down at Bagmara and Rupsha East. All kinds of transport vehicles remained off the roads on Rupsha-Bagerhat-Mongla route. Three platoons of armed policemen were deployed at Bagmara and Rupsha East for launching bloc raids.

Ferry services from Rupsha East to Khulna city were suspended.

All police stations and outposts in the city and the entire district were put on high alert. OCs and other police officers were asked to crack down on listed criminals and check plying vehicles, if required.