An explosion occurred near the main gate of the Barishal Judge Court premises this morning, triggering panic among litigants and the general public.

After the explosion took place around 10:32am with a loud bang, Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Detective Branch (DB) personnel rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area.

Police collected several pieces of evidence, including shattered glass and fragments of plastic, from the site.

Khaleelur Rahman, in-charge of the CID crime scene team, said, “We have inspected the site and are collecting samples, including glass fragments, plastic and suspected explosive materials. A bomb disposal unit from Dhaka is on its way. They will determine what type of explosive device it was.”

It was not a major explosion, Barishal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abu Saleh Mohammad Raihan said, adding that police initially suspected that it was a crude bomb blast.

Advocate Taslim Uddin, a member of the Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, told The Daily Star that they believed "fascists" carried out the blast to create fear among the public and prevent the law minister from making a secluded visit to the court premises on August 16.

Many people moved to safer locations after the explosion. The blast briefly disrupted normal court proceedings, according to our correspondent at the scene.

Court activities resumed after the situation came under control. Additional police have been deployed on the court premises.