At least three people died and 14 were injured when a building partially collapsed due to an “explosion that triggered a fire” in Dhaka’s Science Lab area on Sunday.
The deceased were identified as Tushar, Shafikuzzaman, and Abdul Mannan.
Tushar and Shafikuzzaman were computer operators, and Abdul Mannan was an office assistant in a company that has its office on the building’s second floor.
Confirming the matter, Dhanmondi Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ikram Ali Mia said, “They succumbed to their injuries at Popular Medical College and Hospital.”
Six of the injured are receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.
The three-storey building collapsed partially after the explosion at around 10:52am.
Anwarul Islam, from Fire Service and Civil Defense Headquarters Media Cell, said that four units of fire service were working on the spot.
Quoting locals, he said that the three injured people were taken to a hospital before fire officials arrived.
The fire was brought under control at around 11:13am.
DMP Additional Police Commissioner Kha Mahid Uddin, after visiting the spot on Sunday afternoon, told reporters that there are four possible reasons for the explosion.
The three-storeyed building housed some small offices and an insurance company, he said, adding, “With the extent of the damage, I think no one should be entering the building at this time. We took the risk of visiting and inspecting the spot-on behalf of the police.
“We think it (the explosion) may happen four reasons like short circuit, accumulated gas explosion, gas cylinder explosion or AC explosion.”
However, the exact reason can only be known after an investigation, he said.
When asked about casualties of the incident, he said, “We have heard that 12 to 13 people have been injured and taken to some hospitals, including Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Popular Medical College Hospital.
“Four-five of them are in serious condition, and I heard three people died.”
In total, 14 people have been admitted to the hospital. Eight of them were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Zakir Hossain Jewel, 35, Mehdi Hasan, 25, unidentified man, 40, Taj Uddin, 30, Kabir, 32, Rabeya Khatun, 17, Nurunnabi, 25, and Kamal, 40, are under treatment in DMCH.
DMCH assistant director Dr Ashraful Alam said, “Two of them are in critical condition.”
Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery resident surgeon Dr SM Ayub Hossain said, “Six people who were burnt in the explosion in Science Lab have come here. They are undergoing treatment in the emergency department. Details will be given later.”
Noornabi, 23, Akbar Ali, 52, Ashrafuzzaman, 36, Asha, 25, Hafizur Rahman, 32, and Zahoor Ali, 60, are undergoing treatment in this hospital
‘No use of explosives found’
A team of the army's specialists found no use of explosive substances in the explosion that took place on the 2nd floor of Shireen Mansion at Science Lab area.
The team comprising members of the bomb disposal unit and chemical disaster response team (CDRT) of Bangladesh Army inspected the explosion site in the afternoon and carried out tests.
Replying to a question from reporters after completing their inspection, Bangladesh Army's 57 Engineer Company Commander Maj Md Kaiser Bari said they initially experimented with explosive detection equipment at the scene.
After initial observation, they understood that the explosion was not caused by explosives. If any explosives had been used in the blast, they would have known through the test results, Kaiser added.
He said that after further investigation, it will be known later why the explosion actually took place.
Replying to another question, Maj Kaiser said, "It could be any kind of explosion. But we need to investigate further to know the actual reason. As we detect explosives with our equipment, so initially we can say that there is no evidence of explosives here. Even no evidence of gunpowder or IED use was found here. The exact cause of the explosion will be known later after further investigation."
‘No evidence of sabotage found’
The partial collapse of a building following an explosion in Science Lab area that claimed three lives is not an act of sabotage but an accident, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq on Sunday.
“No evidence of sabotage was found on the spot and the explosion might have occurred for different reasons. The law enforcement agencies are investigating it,” he said while talking to reporters after visiting the spot.
“We’ll form a committee to probe the explosion and the probe body will take opinions from fire service officials and experts and submit a report,” he added.
Replying to a question about whether the law enforcers found any sign of splinter or destructive elements, the DMP chief said, “They have not found any mark of splinter or destructive elements yet.”
