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Two grenade-like objects were recovered near the main entrance of Shah Makhdum Airport in Rajshahi on Tuesday, prompting authorities to close the main gate temporarily and tighten security.
The objects were found around 11:00am on November 10, inside a flowerbed to the left of the airport’s main gate, after a passer-by spotted them and alerted police.
Police and airport authorities quickly reached the scene and cordoned off the area. The main gate was closed for security reasons, while an alternative mosque gate was kept open for passengers entering and leaving the airport.
The incident triggered panic among passengers, while members of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) stepped up security at the airport.
A bomb disposal unit later neutralised the two objects in an open field in Pakuria area of Paba upazila.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku was at the airport’s VIP lounge when the incident occurred. He had arrived in Rajshahi from Dhaka at 10:50am and was travelling to Bogura.
After being informed about the situation, police escorted the minister out through the airport’s rear gate instead of the main entrance. He then left for Bogura by road.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Gaziur Rahman said police took immediate measures in coordination with airport authorities and security personnel to ensure the safety of passengers and the public.
He said the exact nature of the objects would be confirmed after examination. Police are also investigating who placed them near the airport and why.