Top > World > 2005 > August > 2005-08-18

Bangladesh shaken by 300 simultaneous bombs

Some 300 small bombs rocked cities across Bangladesh Wednesday, killing one person, wounding at least 100, and raising questions here about whether the government has come down hard enough against a rising tide of Islamic militarism.

The bombs reportedly targeted mainly government offices, bus and train stations, and markets in 63 of the country`s 64 districts. Police suspect that the homemade bombs were not designed to kill. However, the breadth of the attack - along with the timing of explosions within a half hour time frame - suggests a high degree of coordination. No one claimed responsibility for the blasts, but copies of a leaflet found at most of the bomb sites carried a call by an Islamic group, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, for Islamic rule in Bangladesh.

Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen and other militant outfits were banned in February for their alleged involvement in criminal activities. But critics here say the government, which includes two Islamist parties, has been reluctant to take a harder line with militant groups. Most of Bangladesh`s 141 million people are Muslim. The country was founded on secular principles and enjoys a moderate, peaceful reputation.