Eighteen people suffered burn injuries from a gas balloon explosion during electioneering of BNP candidate of Gazipur-2 constituency Manjurul Karim Rony in Tongi of Gazipur on Monday.
The injured were identified as Anik, 27, Hasu, 28, Hasnat, 18, Hasnat, 22, Akash, 28, Ramjan, 18, Rafi, 12, Bijoy, 16, Tasin, 18, Siam, 16, Minhaz, 17, Nuru, 18, Shaon, 20, Imam, 14, Nirjan, 22, Maruf, 22, Rubel, 34 and Rabbi, 13.
Md Shahin Alam, officer-in-charge of Tongi West Police Station, said the explosion occurred at the local BNP election office near Main Road of Tongi Bazar when some gas balloons kept inside the office exploded with a big bang around 4 pm, leaving 18 people injured.
All of them were set to go for an election campaign, said police.
The injured were taken to Tongi Government Hospital. Later, they were shifted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for treatment around 6:15 pm.