Roundup: Bangladesh Shia Muslims hold Ashura mourning procession despite deadly bomb attack

Shia Muslims in the Bangladesh capital city held their scheduled Ashura mourning procession despite the triple explosion earlier that killed one and injured scores of others.

With thousands of mourners, the large procession paraded through the city's main streets starting from the old Dhaka's Hussaini Dalan, a key venue for majlis or gatherings, where the bombs were detonated early Saturday.

Ashura, or 10th of Muharram in the Islamic calendar, is observed in Bangladesh as well as in other Muslim countries to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, and his followers.

Thousands of Shia Muslims gathered early Saturday in Hussaini Dalan from where the procession starts every year.

During the first 10 days of Muharram, Hussaini Dalan becomes a center of mourning and religious gathering in the Bangladesh capital.

"We have joined the mourning procession. We're not afraid of the heinous attacks," said Humayun Kabir, a Shia Muslim who joined the procession with his family members, including his children.

Kabir said that Saturday's bomb attack could be part of the coordinated assault against Shia Muslims in other parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East.

As part of their ritual, many Shia mourners commemorate the day of Ashura by beating their chest and other forms of flagellation as a sign of mourning for the death of Imam Hussain.

Authorities said that this was the first time in Bangladesh's history since 1971 that Ashura mourners were subjected to a deadly bomb attack.

The blasts occurred at 1:30 a.m. (local time) on Saturday when Shia Muslims gathered at Hussaini Dalan, the starting point for the procession.

Hussain Dalan was built as the Imambara, or house of the imam (Muslim religious leader), of the Shiite community during the latter half of the Mughal rule (17th century) in Dhaka.

"We're deeply shocked," said Abdur Rahim, a Sunni Muslim, during a break from the chanting of slogans as part of their ritual.

"In Bangladesh not just Shias but also Sunnis commemorate the Ashura. We condemn the attack and demand fierce punishment for the culprits," Rahim added.

According to a police officer, who requested anonymity, a young Bangladeshi was killed while 70 others were injured in the explosion of three home-made bombs.

All the injured were rushed to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital in the city. One of the injured was listed in critical condition, the police officer said.

As of late Saturday, no group has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack.

But Dhaka Metrpolitan Police Commissioner Asaduuzaman Miah said that the bomb attack was premeditated and could be a part of a bigger plot to destabilize the county.

"I don't think extremists or Sunni sympathizers launched the attack," Miah said, although he did not elaborate.

For his part, Police Chief AKM Shahidul Huq said vested interest groups, which are against the trials of war criminals in the country, may have launched the attack to create instability.

Huq assured Bangladeshis that the perpetrators will be brought to justice, adding that one suspect is already in police custody.

Because of the bomb attack, the police have tightened security measures along the route of the procession. Enditem