Ashulia (Savar) Correspondent.

A powerful improvised explosive device (IED) concealed inside a pressure cooker was recovered from outside a busy roadside tea stall in Ashulia, one of Dhaka's major industrial hubs, before being safely neutralized in a controlled explosion by the Bomb Disposal Unit of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

Law enforcement agencies, including the police, CTTC and intelligence officials, have launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

According to police and local sources, the incident took place at around 11:00 pm on Thursday in the Khejurbagan (Charabag) area of Ashulia. An unidentified man reportedly arrived at a tea stall named Joyee General Store, owned by Hridoy Chakma, carrying a bag.

The man asked the shopkeeper to exchange some cash. When the shopkeeper said he had no smaller notes, the suspect requested permission to leave the bag in front of the shop for a short while before quickly leaving the area. When he failed to return after a considerable period, local residents became suspicious.

Upon opening the bag, they found a pressure cooker wrapped in adhesive tape, prompting them to alert Ashulia Police Station immediately.

Police rushed to the scene, cordoned off the area and, suspecting the object to be an explosive device, requested assistance from the CTTC Bomb Disposal Unit. A specialized bomb disposal team arrived at around 3:00 am and safely recovered the suspected IED after securing the surrounding area.

Later, early on Friday, the device was taken to an open area inside Amir Sarkar Housing, adjacent to United Garments on Bangabandhu Road in Ashulia Union. After digging a pit and reinforcing the site with sandbags, bomb disposal experts successfully neutralized the device through a controlled explosion.

Officials from the Bomb Disposal Unit said the recovered object was an improvised explosive device (IED) constructed inside a pressure cooker. It reportedly contained steel ball bearings and explosive chemicals, indicating the device had the potential to cause significant casualties if detonated. The exact type of explosive material will be confirmed following forensic examination.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ashulia Police Station, Tarikul Islam, said the recovered device is being examined by experts.

"We are investigating who left the explosive device there and for what purpose. CCTV footage from the surrounding area is being collected and analyzed, and operations are underway to identify and arrest those involved," the OC said.

A source involved in the investigation said detectives have already collected CCTV footage from nearby shops and roads. Investigators are now tracing the movements of the individual who left the bag and attempting to identify any possible accomplices.

Authorities have not yet disclosed any evidence linking the recovered device to a specific group or motive. The investigation remains ongoing.