The 136th disappearance anniversary of mystic philosopher Fakir Lalon Shah concluded under a cloud of deep anxiety and apprehension on Monday morning (October 14) following the recovery of a live time bomb from the main shrine premises in Kushtia's Kumarkhali Upazila. The three-day commemorative festival, which commenced on Saturday, witnessed an abrupt and premature departure of numerous mystic devotees and ascetics well before the scheduled conclusion, as security concerns escalated dramatically after law enforcement cordoned off the area late Sunday night.
According to police and local sources, the scare began at approximately 1:30 AM on Monday when authorities received information regarding a suspicious bag left inside the shrine premises in Cheuria village. Upon investigation, law enforcement officers discovered a primed time bomb placed near a coconut tree, situated merely twenty paces away from a temporary police camp. A specialized bomb disposal unit dispatched from Dhaka arrived at the scene on Monday morning and successfully neutralized the explosive device, averting a potential catastrophe.
The recovery triggered immediate panic among the gathered crowds, prompting security forces to swiftly evacuate the ascetics to secure locations and enforce a stringent lockdown of the shrine grounds. By 11:00 AM on Monday, the sprawling akhara premises had grown nearly deserted, with only a handful of visitors remaining. The palpable tension led organizers to reschedule the closing discussion session, moving it forward by two hours to 4:00 PM instead of the originally planned 6:00 PM.
Despite the unnerving security breach, the altered closing ceremony proceeded with State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit attending as the chief guest. Presided over by Kushtia Deputy Commissioner Touhid Bin-Hasan, the event featured essayist Ahmed Shakil Hashmi as the keynote speaker, alongside local civil administration officials, police leadership, and political figures.
In the wake of the incident, Kumarkhali Police Station has lodged a formal case against unidentified perpetrators. Additional Superintendent of Police Faisal Mahmud confirmed that a thorough search of the entire complex was conducted and security measures were substantially reinforced. Investigators are currently treating the matter with utmost gravity to uncover how the explosive device was smuggled into the sacred sanctuary during the major national cultural gathering.
