Bomb explosion wounds British ambassador to Bangladesh

Friday, May 21st 2004, 6:08 am

By: News On 6

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) _ A bomb exploded at a Muslim shrine in the northeastern city of Sylhet on Friday, killing one person. The British ambassador to Bangladesh was among dozens wounded, police and witnesses said.

British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury was hospitalized in Sylhet, awaiting airlift to Dhaka, Bangladeshi media reported. The extent of his injuries was unknown.

An army helicopter was being readied to bring Choudhury to the capital, private TV station ATN Bangla said.

No one claimed responsibility for the blast, which also killed one Bangladeshi man and injured more than 40 other people, including senior government officials, police and media reports said.

Choudhury, a Bangladeshi-born Briton, was visiting the shrine days after taking over the diplomatic post last week.

The blast occurred during noon prayers at the Hazrat Shahjalal shrine in Sylhet, 120 miles northeast of the capital Dhaka, a police official said on condition of anonymity.