Injured Md Milon, 14, a worker of the police box, Nasir Ali, 35, a rickshaw-puller, Abdul Aziz, 32, an employee of a nearby public toilet, Abul Bashar, 35, a businessman, Abdur Rahsid, 60, a pedestrian and Khairul Hasan, 36, an engineer, are undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

Saifur Rahman, assistant sub-inspector of Rab-3, who received injuries in his right arm and leg, is being treated elsewhere.

Khairul Hasan received injuries in his head and abdomen and he was stated to be in a critical condition. He was undergoing surgery at DMCH till the filing of this report at 12:00am.

First-hand accounts of the incident could not confirm whether the bomb was placed there or hurled at the Rab vehicle.

Witnesses said the bomb went off around 7:00pm only five metres from the Rab patrol van parked in front of Sergeant Ahad Police Box. The blast injured the people who were waiting in front of the public toilet. Milon was only a few metres away from the blast while Nasir Ali was pulling his rickshaw close the spot.

Abdul Aziz said, "I came out of the toilet to listen to the radio news outside when the sound of explosion rocked the area, I started running in fear when I discovered I was bleeding."

Police Sub-Inspector (SI) Atiqur Rahman said he was in the area and rushed to the spot following the explosion. The blast shattered the windows of the Rab vehicle, he added. He said he rescued five injured and took them to DMCH on his patrol van.

Detective and Crime Intelligence Unit of Police and Rab cordoned off the area while a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team searched for evidence.

Deepak Gupta, assistant superintendent of CID who also led the team, told The Daily Star that it was a powerful bomb but details about the device would only be uncovered through an investigation.

Sources said Crime Intelligence Unit of Police has asked DMCH authorities to give them the splinter they find in the victims.