A street urchin was killed and at least seven others were injured in twin near-simultaneous blasts in as many cinemas in the northeastern city on Thursday night when plastic explosives were also retrieved from another movie theatre, stoking security fears.

On June 21 this year, an explosion killed a man and injured 50 others at the meeting venue of frontline AL leader Suranjit Sengupta, MP, at Derai upazila headquarters in Sunamganj.

Three people were killed and 70 others, including British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury, were injured when a bomb exploded on the premises of Hazrat Shahjalal's shrine after Juma prayers on May 21.

The deputy commissioner in Sylhet and two gunmen of the British envoy also were among the injured.

Nine people were arrested and interrogated by the joint interrogation cell in Dhaka. The investigation officer was transferred twice and the case transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police. The Scotland Yard also visited Sylhet twice, but no headway could be achieved so far.

On January 12 this year, five people were killed and 50 others injured during a urs also at Hazrat Shahjalal's shrine.

The case was transferred to the CID from Kotwali police, 24 people were arrested and remanded, but the motive for the attack could not be uncovered.

A probe body headed by the superintendent of police in Sylhet was given two extensions for ten days each in addition to the first seven days to probe into the attack, but the report is yet to see daylight. "It's lying with the police headquarters in Dhaka," said a local police officer.

In 1997, two explosions took place at Sagardighirpar and Amabarkhana in Sylhet city. Chhatra League leader Ali Ahmed died in the blast at Sagardighirpar and the Ambarkhana blast caused damage to several houses, but left no casualty.

On March 15, 1999 an explosion rocked the house of the then ruling

party legislator Muhibur Rahman Manik in Chhatak upazila headquarters in Sunamganj apparently when the bombs were being made.

The deputy, his elder brother, a cousin, and a Juba League leader along with some others were arrested and charge-sheeted.

After formation of the Speedy Trial Tribunal, Sylhet the case was shifted to it in November 2000. But the trial began recently after the High Court vacated previous stay orders.

On September 26, 2001 a blast devastated a public meeting of Suranjit in Shulla in Sunamganj district, killing four people.

A few months ago, police submitted the final report in the case filed by Suranjit.

The same night another blast took place in the city, killing two suspected bomb builders on the sidelines of a meeting attended by Awami League President Sheikh Hasina as the chief guest.