The seized consignment of calcium carbide, a highly inflammable chemical that the Benapole customs commissioner says can be used for making powerful bombs, is now in Benapole customs warehouse. Some samples of it were sent to Dhaka for chemical test.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police (Khulna Range) Abdul Aziz Sarker said Ganesh Chandra Saha, who was arrested for importing the material bypassing rules, has given them some 'important clues' to involvement of some influential persons in the affair.

Abdul Aziz said questions have also been raised on the roles of the bank officials concerned in opening letter of credit (LC), authorities of Bangladesh Shipping Inspection and a section of customs officials in this matter. Intelligence agencies are working hard to gather more clues, he added.

Ganesh, son of Shankar Saha of Jahirpar village under Moksedpur upazila of Gopalganj district, owns a shop named Tarakeshwar Bhander at 7/1 Khalishpur Housing Estate, Khulna, which was the expressed destination of the cargo.

Police said Ganesh has admitted of importing another consignment, of 11 tons of calcium carbide, from India through the same land port in March last year. It is meant to be used for ripening fruits, particularly mangoes, and not for making bombs, Ganesh told his interrogators yesterday, the third day of his five-day remand at Satkhira Sadar Police Station.

The importer also claims he was not aware that as from March 15 this year, under Article 26 of the Import Policy Ordinance, 2004, prior permission of the government was required to import such materials, police said.

Abdul Kader Beg, officer in charge of the police station and the investigating officer of the case, said they are investigating why Khulna Bazar branch of United Commercial Bank Ltd issued the LC worth US$ 2,304 on March 18 last for importing the chemical. They are also looking into why the customs authority at Bhomra land port realised Tk 105,000 as taxes from the importer in total disregard of the legal requirements, he added.

Police also claimed another consignment of more than 15 tons of this explosive material, due to enter through Benapole land port Thursday last, was scared off by Wednesday's Bhomra operation.