22 May 2004	Saturday	02 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

DHAKA, May 21: A powerful bomb exploded at a shrine in Bangladesh on Friday, killing two men and injuring nearly 50 people, among them the British ambassador.

Police and officials said British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury was hit below the knees by splinters when the bomb went off as he participated in noon prayers at the Hazrat Shahjalal shrine in the north-eastern Sylhet town.

It was the second blast at the shrine this year after an explosion in January killed three people. District officials said they had no immediate idea who caused Friday's blast.

Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia said she was deeply shocked and called the blast a heinous act of violence. She urged officials to immediately find and punish those involved.

About 50 wounded people were brought to the Sylhet hospital, said a doctor of the emergency ward. -Reuters