Crude bomb attack near Dhaka church kills 21-year-old on Christmas Eve

Fresh violence erupted in Dhaka on Christmas Eve after a young man was killed in a petrol bomb attack at the busy Moghbazar intersection, police said on Wednesday night. 

The incident took place hours before Christmas celebrations and amid heightened political tension ahead of exiled Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman’s visit.

According to law enforcement officials, unidentified assailants hurled a crude bomb — believed to be a Molotov cocktail — from the Moghbazar flyover at around 7.10 pm. The explosive landed on the road below, striking 21-year-old Saiful Siam on the head and killing him on the spot.

The attack occurred near the Assemblies of God (AG) Church at New Eskaton, under the jurisdiction of Hatirjheel Police Station. The blast triggered chaos in the area as commuters and locals fled in panic.

Confirming the incident, Ramna Division Deputy Police Commissioner Masud Alam told local media that a “powerful cocktail bomb” was thrown from the flyover. “The youth died instantly after being hit by the explosive. Senior police officials rushed to the spot, and an investigation is underway,” he said.

Eyewitness accounts painted a grim picture of the aftermath. Faruk, a street-side tea-stall owner who knew the victim, said Siam had stopped by for tea moments before the blast. “There was a sudden loud bang. When I looked, Siam was lying on the ground with severe head injuries. Blood was everywhere,” he said.

Police identified the victim as an employee of Zahid Car Decoration, an automobile accessories shop in the Moghbazar area. He had reportedly stepped out to buy snacks when the attack occurred.

Security forces have since cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to identify the attackers and establish the motive behind the attack. The incident has once again raised concerns over public safety in Dhaka amid sporadic violence and political uncertainty.