Bomb Blast Kills Man in Dhaka Amid Rising Tensions Ahead of Tarique Rahman’s Return

The victim, identified as Siam, believed to be in his early 20s, died on the spot. Inspector (Operations) Md Mohiuddin of the Hatirjheel Police Station told local media that Siam was a private shop employee having tea at a roadside stall under the flyover when the blast occurred.

The explosion took place near the Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad—the central office of the nation’s Liberation War veterans—at approximately 7 pm. The attack has raised concerns about security as the country prepares for Rahman’s return from nearly 17 years in exile in London.

Rahman, the 60-year-old son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is considered a leading contender for the prime ministerial post in the upcoming February 2026 general elections. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has reportedly ordered heightened security measures, while the BNP plans to mobilize millions of supporters to welcome him.

This latest violence follows the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent student leader and key figure in the 2024 uprising. Hadi was shot by masked gunmen on December 12, 2025, while leaving a mosque in Dhaka, and later died in Singapore during treatment. The BNP held a protest rally at Shahbagh in Dhaka on Tuesday to condemn his death.

The situation in Dhaka remains tense as authorities prepare for potential unrest during the politically sensitive period surrounding Tarique Rahman’s return.