Child dies after bomb explodes during ‘play’. Two of her siblings are injured

A child has died and two of her siblings have been injured as a bomb they found while playing near their house exploded in Jashore’s Sadar Upazila.

The three were identified as Shojib Ahmed, 7, and his sisters Khadizatul Kubra, 5, and Ayesha Sultana, 3. Their father is Shahadat Hossain, a resident of the Golpata Mosque area of Shankarpur in Jashore town.

Shumi Khatun, the mother of the children, said that doctors at Jashore General Hospital had advised that Khadiza and Shojib be transferred to Dhaka for treatment. Khadiza died on the way in Norail. Shojib had to have his arm amputated.

The explosion occurred around 8:30am on Monday.

Shariful Islam Ranju, a doctor in the surgery department at Jashore General, said that the blast had torn apart Khadiza’s stomach and intestines and seriously damaged Shojib’s arm, requiring its amputation. They were sent to Dhaka when their condition worsened.

Inspector Kazi Babul Hossain of Jashore Kotwali Police Station said, “We went to the spot after a bomb blast was reported. The family says that their son Shojib found the bomb on the ground outside. We will investigate whether the bomb was in the house or it was picked up by the children outside.”

Azharul Islam, a neighbour, said that locals went towards Shahadat’s house after they heard a loud sound around 8:30am. They found the three siblings injured.

“Shojib was playing in the field next to the house in the morning. On his way back, he picked up a container wrapped in tape. He took it home and used it as a ball when playing with his sisters. It suddenly exploded.”