The Gulistan building has turned risky as its ground floor was badly damaged after the blast, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Wednesday.
"The five-storey building has turned risky and the whole building may collapse under pressure. So a rescue operation in the basement should be started after creating a stable situation," he said while talking to reporters after visiting the spot.
The extent of the damage could’ve been minimised if it had been constructed following the building code, said Asaduzzaman.
When asked about the reason behind the explosion, the minister said the actual reason behind the incident will be known after investigation.
He also urged people to refrain from constructing buildings without taking proper approval from different agencies concerned.
Earlier, on Tuesday, at least 17 people were killed and over 100 others injured in a massive explosion in a 5-storey building near a BRTC bus counter in the capital's Gulistan area.
Among the injured, 11 people have been undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
