175 bomb blasts kill 13, injure 100 in 10 S-W dists last year

Of the incidents, at least 80 were targeted attacks for killing or for destruction and the rest were for creating panic or anarchy, according to law enforcing agencies.

The incidents are in addition to 72 blasts by Islamist militants of JMB (Jamaatul Mujahideen, Bangladesh) on August 17 in the region, police said.

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Outlawed parties active in the region carried pout most of these attacks and explosions, they said. They also claimed responsibility for many of the incidents.

Those killed and injured in the blasts include leaders and activists of different political parties, journalists, businessmen, law enforcers, public representatives, government or non-government officials.

According to data available from police, one journalist, six political activists, three public representatives were killed and seven journalists, at least 50 political activists and 30 businessmen were injured in the attacks.

Four persons including a journalist were killed in Khulna, two in Sathkhira, three in Meherpur, two in Jhenidah and two in Chuadanga.

Twenty-six of the attacks took place in Jessore, 21 in Khulna, 12 in Jhenidah, eight in Bagerhat, 13 in Sathkhira, 26 in Meherpur, 38 in Chuadanga, five in Narail, 18 in Kushtia and eight in Magura.

Janajuddho, the most powerful outlawed outfit in the region claimed responsibility for at least 50 of the bomb attacks. The rest were done by other parties and gangs.

Police said at least 11 outlawed parties and 20 gangs are active in the ten southwestern districts.

In recent years, the government launched at least 25 special drives including the 'Operation Clean Heart,' 'Operation Spider Web' to contain outlaws. But most of the drives became ineffective allegedly because of leak of information ahead of drives, law enforcers claim.

Bomb attacks and blasts increased in the area last year. High police officials in the region also admitted this.

A high police official seeking anonymity told this correspondent that bomb blasts increased in the region as bomb making materials are easily available as those are coming from India through different border points in the region reaching outlawed parties.