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The Dhaka South City Corporation has declared the building ‘risky’ which partially collapsed and caught fire in Dhaka’s Science Lab area on Sunday after an explosion that left three people dead and at least 12 others injured. The DSCC authorities, however, put up a banner on the site of the accident, declaring the building risky and abandoned.
Abdur Razzak who used to work at Mehedi Punjabi House on the ground floor of the building said that he was standing on the road at the time when the explosion took place.
“We have many goods in the store. The administration has declared the building risky. It would have been good for us if we could take the goods out. Let’s see what the authorities say,” he added.
Abdul Al Mamun, the owner of New Model Laundry said, “The building has been declared risky. I don’t know where I will go now and how I will start business again.”
There were several shops on the ground floor of the collapsed building.
Accumulated gas might have caused explosion
Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General (DG) Brigadier General Md Main Uddin said that the building might have collapsed due to explosion caused by accumulated gas there. “It was a massive accident and investigation is still underway.”
When asked if the incident was an act of sabotage after the opening ceremony of Pallabi Fire Station in Mirpur DOHS on Monday, the Fire Service DG said, “I myself sought help from the army to find out whether the incident at Science Lab was an accident or not. After inspection, their bomb disposal team said there were no signs of sabotage or explosives.”
Exactly where and how the gas accumulated and how did it cause explosion, could not be confirmed yet till filing of this report. However, bomb disposal unit said that if there is more than normal concentration of gas in an enclosed space, the explosion can be triggered by anything like electrical switch, short circuit, fuse or lighter.
Police surrounding the building
On Monday, a police team visited the spot. Police have surrounded the building for security reasons.
New Market Police Station’s OC Md Shafiqul Gani Sabu said that various agencies are investigating the incident. Further legal action will be taken based on experts’ opinions.
“If the victim’s family files a case, proper legal action will be taken,” he added.
Bodies handed over to relatives
The bodies of three victims--Sadiqur Rahman Tushar (31), Safiquzzaman (44) and Abdul Mannan (63)--have been handed over to their families after post-mortem.
However, 10 injured people are undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn & Plastic Surgery (SHNIBPS).
