The ruling alliance-backed militant groups have been carrying out all these pre-planned attacks on the leaders and activists of the opposition one after another, they alleged at a rally yesterday.

Tense situation is prevailing in Sylhet following Friday's grenade attack on the city mayor, who narrowly escaped the attack as the grenade did not explode.

Meanwhile, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) yesterday detonated the sophisticated Arges model grenade used in Friday night's attack on Kamran.

Three persons have been arrested in this connection and three others picked up as suspected activists of the banned Islamist militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

The Rab officials took the unexploded grenade to the MC College playground and detonated it in presence of police and intelligence officials.

The grenade is similar to those used in the August 21 carnage at an AL rally in the capital last year. Had it exploded, it would have caused a big tragedy, a Rab official said.

He however could not explain why the grenade did not explode. Only the army has this type of grenades, he said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Sylhet Range, Syed Shah Jamal Raj also said the grenade used in Friday's attack is similar to that used in the Habiganj incident that left AL senior leader and former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria killed, and those used in August the 21 incident last year. Outlawed extremist outfits used such grenades, he added.

Kamran, also the chief of AL city unit, lodged a general diary (GD) with the Kotwali Police Station last night without accusing anyone. The police also filed a case under the Explosive Substances Act.

In his GD, Kamran mentioned that he was also attacked the same way last year. Office Secretary of the city AL Mohammad Ibrahim was killed in the attack.

"I do not know who are making such attacks on me and my partymen. But I believe certain organised militant groups are involved in the incidents," he said, asking for adequate security for him.

"Only two gunmen were with me. The arrangement was made after last year's attack. I have been deprived of the security due to a mayor like me, enjoying the status of a state minister. The matter was brought to the notice of the home minister last year but no step has been taken as yet," he told The Daily Star.

The three arrested in connection with the grenade attack are Md Badal Miah, 30, of Sadequepur village in Bhairab upazila of Kishoreganj, Kabir Hossain, 32, of Shahnajpur village of Pirojpur, and Abdul Quaiyum, 30, of Biroja village of Netrakona.

Besides, the police picked up Hafez Mohammad Khurshed Alam of Doulatpur under Baniachang upazila of Habiganj, Tajul Islam and Abdus Sobhan of Nayagram under Kanaighat upazila of Sylhet as suspected JMB activists from Asia Hotel in the city.

Meanwhile, security in the city has been tightened with additional check posts at important points and stepped-up Rab and armed police patrol.

AL RALLY
The rally called upon the people to join the opposition's agitation to compel the BNP-Jamaat coalition government to quit immediately.

Sylhet district AL President ANM Shafique, General Secretary Iftekhar Hossain Shamim, city AL General Secretary Misbahuddin Siraj and city Ward Commissioner Abdul Khalique spoke at the rally, among others.

After the rally, a procession was brought out, parading the streets to the Central Shaheed Minar.