Dhaka: British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar A Chowdhury was injured today (May 21, 2004) in a bomb blast at a Muslim shrine in the Northeast of the country, which also left at least two persons dead and over 50 wounded.

The blast occurred at the shrine of saint Hazrat Shahjalal in Sylhet town. Bangladesh-born Chowdhury, 43, had gone to visit the shrine just days after taking over as the High Commissioner to Dhaka.

Chowdhury, his bodyguard and Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Sylhet were among over 50 people injured in the blast, which also left two persons dead.

In London, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he was "deeply shocked by the news of this bomb and extend my sympathies to all the victims and their families".

"Details of exactly what happened and the nature of injuries are not clear," he said in a statement.

"We are grateful for the support we are receiving from the Bangladeshi authorities."

The British envoy was admitted to Osmani Medical College hospital in Sylhet, while DC is being treated at a private clinic. Paramilitary BDR forces have been deployed in the divisional town to beef up security, reports said.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia expressed her shock at the incident and directed the concerned authorities to find out the culprits. She also sent a helicopter to bring the envoy back to Dhaka, reports said.

Some reports said a bomb was thrown at Chowdhury's car when he was coming out of the shrine after offering Friday's prayer.

A big hole was created on the ground due to the impact of the powerful bomb thrown at the envoy's car, private TV channel NTV reported.

It said a man suspected of hurling the bomb was handed over to police by witnesses.

Chowdhury, who was on a three-day visit to his home district Sunamganj in Sylhet region, immigrated to UK in 1970 and is the first Bangladesh-born British High Commissioner.

The incident came less than a fortnight after he presented his credential to the Bangladesh President.