A dog of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has been awarded for its heroic role in rescue operation after a massive explosion in a 7-storey building in the capital’s Siddique Bazar area recently. For the first time in Bangladesh, ‘Cheetah’, a member of the Dog squad of the RAB,  received RAB Director General Award for its heroic role, said ASP Imran Khan of Media wing of RAB headquarters. Earlier on March 7, three teams of RAB dog squad along with other members of the elite force joined the rescue operation following the deadly blast. Also Read: Gulistan blast: One more victim succumbs to injuries, death toll now 24 The dog had important role in recovering three bodies from the damaged building, Imran Khan added. Earlier, on March 7, a massive explosion in the 7-storey building near a BRTC bus counter in the capital’s Gulistan area left at least 24 people dead and over 100 injured.    

The death toll from the massive explosion that ripped through a 5-storey building in Gulistan's Siddique Bazar area has risen to 24, with one more victim succumbing to his injuries on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Zahan Sardar Selim, 21, son of Jahangir Sardar of Jatrabari. Selim had been undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery with 50% burn injuries. He succumbed to his injuries around 4:40 pm, said Inspector Bachhu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police camp. Also Read: Building owners among 3 land in jail over Gulistan blast Earlier, on March 7, at least 17 people were killed and over 100 were injured in a massive explosion in the 5-storey building near a BRTC bus counter in the capital’s Gulistan area. A sanitary materials shop on the ground floor of the building, BRAC Bank office on one of the floors and an adjacent 7-storey building were damaged but the building didn't collapse. Meanwhile, two bodies were recovered from the debris on March 9. Musa Haider, 45, a victim succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital on the same day, raising the death toll to 20. Meanwhile, firefighters recovered the body of another victim from the debris on March 9 while two other victims identified as Yeasin Arafat and Mirza Azam succumbed to their injuries at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery on March 9 and March 11, respectively. Three people, including the owner of the building at Siddique Bazar, were arrested in a case over the blast on Thursday. A Dhaka court on Thursday put the three arrested people on a three-day remand.    

The death toll from the massive explosion that ripped through a 5-storey building in Gulistan's Siddique Bazar area has risen to 23, with one more victim succumbing to his injuries today. The deceased was identified as Mirza Azam, 36, son of Shahjahan Mirza from Baufal upazila of Patuakhali district. Azam had been undergoing treatment at the ICU of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. Azam breathed his last at around 9:30 am today (March 11, 2023), said SM Ayub Hossain, resident surgeon of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. Read more: Gulistan blast: Death toll rises to 22 He was admitted to the hospital with 80% burn injuries. Azam worked at a sanitary shop in the five-storey building where the deadly blast occurred. On March 7, at least 17 people were killed and over 100 were injured in a massive explosion in the 5-storey building near a BRTC bus counter in the capital’s Gulistan area. A sanitary materials shop on the ground floor of the building, BRAC Bank office on one of the floors and an adjacent 7-storey building were damaged but no buildings collapsed. Read More: Cousins who went out for tea in Gulistan’s Siddique Bazar never returned Three people, including the owner of the building at Siddique Bazar, were shown arrested in a case over the blast on Thursday. A Dhaka court on Thursday put the three arrested people on a three-day remand.

Two days after a deadly explosion in a commercial building in Gulistan's Siddique Bazar area, another  man succumbed to his burn injuries on Thursday night,  raising the death toll to 22. The deceased was identified as Yasir Arafat, 26. He was under treatment at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn & Plastic Surgery. Earlier, on Tuesday, at least 17 people were killed and over 100 were injured in a massive explosion in a 5-storey building near a BRTC bus counter in the capital’s Gulistan area. The explosion occurred on Tuesday. A sanitary materials shop on the ground floor of the building, BRAC Bank office on one of the other floors and an adjacent 7-storey building were damaged but no buildings collapsed. Read more: Gulistan blast: Another body recovered from debris, death toll now 21 Three people, including the owner of the building at Siddique Bazar, were shown arrested in a case over the blast on Thursday. A Dhaka court on Thursday put the three arrested people including the building owners of Siddique Bazar blast, which left 21 people dead, on a three-day remand

Family members are mourning two cousins from the Chandpur district, who left their shop to have tea in Dhaka’s Gulistan area where a deadly blast killed several people on Tuesday (March 07, 2023). Death toll as of now is 20. Family members and relatives are still mourning the deaths of Al Amin, 23, son of Billal Hossain of Paschim Lalpur village, and Mansur Hossain, 24, son of Mosharraf Hossain of Chengarchar village in Matlab North upazila of Chandpur district. They demanded proper investigation into the explosion. Kawsar, younger brother of Mansur, said Al Amin, son of his maternal aunt, visited Mansur’s shop located in Gulistan’s Phulbaria Super Market on Tuesday. After having some conversation, Mansur and Al Amin went out of the shop around 4:15 pm, saying that they would return in 20 minutes after having tea in Siddique Bazar. Also read: Gulistan blast: Another injured dies at DMCH, death toll now 20 “Those 20 minutes didn’t end and they will not return,” cried Kawsar. Later, he heard about the explosion and went out looking for them. Failing to find them, he went to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where he found the bodies of Mansur and Al Amin. Al Amin was a student of a private college in Dhaka. Md Mohiuddin, officer-in-charge of Matlab North Police Station, said the bodies of the two victims were handed over to their relatives on Wednesday night. Read More: Gulistan blast: Rescue operation goes into 3rd day When the mortal remains of the two young men arrived in their respective areas, a pall of gloom descended on the area. They were buried at their respective family graveyards around 11 pm. On Tuesday, at least 17 people were killed and over 100 were injured in a massive explosion in a 5-storey building near a BRTC bus counter in the capital’s Gulistan area. Meanwhile, two bodies were recovered from the debris yesterday. Read More: Siddique Bazar Blast: DSCC restricts heavy vehicles on Bangshal-Gulistan road Musa Haider, 45, a victim succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital last night, raising the death toll to 20. The explosion occurred around 4:50 pm on Tuesday. A sanitary materials shop on the ground floor of the building, BRAC Bank office on one of the other floors and an adjacent 7-storey building were damaged but no building collapsed. END/UNB/Corr/MAS/KW

Among the family members and friends waiting in front of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s emergency room a father was wailing on Wednesday. He lost his only son to an explosion that ripped through a commercial building in the capital’s Gulistan area on Tuesday. “Where is my son? I have only one son. Where did my son go?” the father was heard crying in front of the DMCH emergency room. Later, he was taken away by his family members from there before the child's body could be taken out of the emergency room. Meanwhile, a short description was hung on the right wall inside the emergency room, along with a list of patients injured in the Siddique Bazar explosion. According to the list, injured patients have been kept in ward numbers 100, 102, 103, 204, and the ICU, as well as in some other departments of the hospital. Read more: Siddique Bazar blast: 2 bodies retrieved from debris, death toll now 19 Multiple injured people were seen inside ward number 100.  Speaking to the Ansar members on duty and the relatives of the injured, it was learned that they were rescued from the rubble of the building that was damaged largely due to the explosion in Siddique Bazar. While speaking to UNB’s Dhaka University Correspondent, Rubel, a victim of the explosion who was an employee of a shop in Siddique Bazar said the shop had four employees apart from him. Among them, Mainuddin was killed on the spot during the explosion. Raju, one of the employees, was kept in the ICU of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Arman Hossain, the manager of the shop, was taken from DMCH to Azghar Ali Hospital. Meanwhile, Sunny, one of Rubel’s coworkers, was kept in ward no. 101 of the hospital. At the entrance of the ward, UNB correspondent talked to another person named Sumon Ali. He was staying with his brother at the hospital. Sumon said his brother was working as a driver of a goods delivery van at one of the shops that collapsed. Read more: Blast in Sidddique Bazar not from gas leakage: Titas Gas His brother was there when the explosion occurred. He was rescued last night and brought to the hospital. Although his brother's physical condition is out of danger, he said that the backbone has moved quite a lot from the specified position. A man named Ratan Mia was seen standing with a photo of his missing son, Abdul Malek (17), who used to work at a brick kiln in Savar’s Hemayetpur. He always used this route to travel to and from Hemayetpur. Malek has remained missing since the explosion occurred yesterday. “Everyone asked me to look for him at the DMCH. But I couldn’t find him yet,” Ratan told UNB. “He doesn’t have any mobile phones. I’ve tried calling my relatives. No one knows his whereabouts,” he said, bursting into tears. Mohammad Rifat, a young boy, was standing next to Ratan Mia. He just passed Alim (HSC) from Tamirul Millat Madrasa in the capital. Rifat came to the hospital after burying his father a while ago to receive financial assistance for the victims announced by the government. Read more: Reason behind Gulistan blast to be known after examining samples: Rab director His father was rescued from the rubble and taken home last night. But after some time, he was asked to bring his father's body to DMCH. The body was brought to DMCH and handed over to them within a short time. His father was then taken home and buried there. Rifat said: "My father was the only earning member of my family. I have my mother and a younger brother at home.” “I always wanted to study. But now I don’t know what to do next! I don't know what will happen to my younger brother!" he told UNB. Earlier, at least 19 people were killed and over 100 others injured in a massive explosion in a 5-storey building near a BRTC bus counter at Siddique Bazar in Gulistan area of the capital. Among the injured, 11 people have been undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. Read more: Sidddique Bazar blast: Shop owner ‘picked up by DB police’ Meanwhile, the government has announced financial assistance of Tk 50,000 each to the families of those killed in the explosion. Relatives are receiving financial assistance from a  temporary tent set out by the district administration in front of the emergency gate of Dhaka Medical College Hospital by showing the death certificate of the deceased.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday voiced concern that Dhaka has become an 'explosion-prone’ and 'dangerous' city due to the government’s extreme negligence and mismanagement.” “Explosions have been taking place one after another in the country for the past few days.  These incidents are happening as there is no supervision of the construction work of the buildings or their maintenance,” he said. Read more: Blast in Sidddique Bazar not from gas leakage: Titas Gas In a brief address before launching a rally, the BNP leader said the government organisations that are supposed to monitor and inspect these buildings are not properly doing their duties as they are involved in corruption. As a result, he said, there is no security in the buildings to prevent explosions and there is no system to prevent fire there. “So, such terrible explosions are happening, leaving many people dead and injured. In fact, Dhaka has now become an explosion-prone and most dangerous city,” Fakhrul said. Read more: Gulistan building turned risky after blast: Home Minister He also bemoaned that the air in Dhaka city is said to be the most polluted in the world.  Besides, the BNP leader alleged that the wind of corruption has now completely engulfed Bangladesh. Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club, marking International Women's Day. The leaders and activists of Mohila Dal took part in the rally wearing purple sarees and holding purple balloons and placards with the photos of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. At least 19 people were dead and over 100 injured in a huge explosion in a 5-storey building in Siddique Bazar of Dhaka’s Gulistan area. Read more: Reason behind Gulistan blast to be known after examining samples: Rab director Earlier on Sunday, three people were killed in an explosion in a building in Dhaka's Science laboratory area while seven people were killed and many injured in another explosion and fire at an oxygen plant in Chattogram’s Sitakunda on Saturday.  

The cause behind the explosion in the 5-storey Gulistan building will be known after examining the samples collected from the site, said Major Morshed Alam, director of bomb disposal unit of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab). “Primary samples were collected from the blast site and sent to laboratory for test and the actual reason behind the explosion could be known after examining the samples,” he said. “We entered the damaged building carefully and it appeared that it is not an incident of fire, it’s an explosion. The level of explosion was huge,”Major Morshed said. There might be multiple reasons including leakage of gas pipeline behind the blast and there is a little possibility of air conditioner blast, he said. Besides, a dog squad team is working there to check whether there is any existence of human alive or dead inside the building, said Morshed. Also read: Gulistan blast: Rescue operation begins for the second day Earlier, 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. Three firefighting units resumed the rescue operation around 9 am, said Khaleda Yeasmin, duty officer of the Fire Service Control Room, around 11 am. A four-member probe body headed by Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director of Fire Service and Civil Defense (Operation and maintenance), has been formed to look into the explosion . The committee has been asked to submit its report within five working days, said Shahjahan Sikder, Deputy Additional Director of Fire service and Civil Defense headquarters media cell. END/UNB/MJ-MAS/FH

Firefighting units have started their rescue operation for the second day this morning at the building in Siddique Bazar of Dhaka’s Gulistan, where 17 people lost their lives in a deadly explosion yesterday. Three firefighting units started the rescue operation around 9 am but no one has been rescued yet, said Khaleda Yeasmin, duty officer of the Fire Service Control Room, around 11 am. Meanwhile, a four-member probe body headed by Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director of Fire Service and Civil Defense (Operation and maintenance), has been formed to look into the explosion that ripped through the 5-storey building in Gulistan. The committee has been asked to submit its report within five working days, said Shahjahan Sikder, Deputy Additional Director of Fire service and Civil Defense headquarters media cell. Yesterday, at least 17 people were dead and over 60 were injured in a massive explosion at a 5-storey building near a BRTC bus counter in the capital’s Gulistan area. The explosion occurred around 4:50 pm, said Shahjahan Sikder. The authorities handed over the bodies of the 17 in the morning, said Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police outpost. Also read: Gulistan blast: Death toll rises to 17 The 17 deceased were identified as Sumon, 21, son of Momin of Suritola; Munsur Hossain, 40, son of Mosharraf hossain of Jatrabari; Ishak Mridha, 35, son of Dulal Mridha of Barishal; Md Ismail, 42, son of Hossain Ali of Bongshal; Rahat, 18, son of Jahangir Alam of South Keraniganj; Alamin, 23, son of Billal Hossain of Chandpur; Hridoy Mia, 18, son of Hashem Mia of Kishoreganj; Idris Mir, 50, son of Kala Chan Mir of Jatrabari; Mominul Islam, 38, son of Abul Hashem of Chawkbazar; Nodi Begum, 34, wife of Mominul Islam; Moin Uddin, 50, son of Jamir Uddin of Munshiganj; Nazmul Hossain, 20, son of Yunus Hossain of Bongshal; Obaidul Hasan, 55, son of Shaheb Ali of Manikganj; Abu Zafar Siddique, 34, son of Mozammel Haque of Munshiganj; Akuti Begum, 70, wife of Anwarul Islam of Bongshal; Nurul Islam Bhuiya, 55, son of Mohammad Bhuiya of Jatrabari; and Abdul Hakim Siam, 18, son of Dulal of Keraniganj. Meanwhile, hospital sources said according to the relatives, 3-4 people remain missing since the explosion. Among the injured, 11 people have been undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. The cause of the Gulistan explosion could not be ascertained yet.      

People were still trapped inside the Gulistan building where at least 15 people have died, hours after a fiery explosion ripped through the 5-storey block on Tuesday evening. People on the upper floors became trapped inside as it was not possible to get to the ground floor, as the columns holding up the building from the ground collapsed, said Brig General Md Main Uddin, director general of Fire Service and Civil Defence. “We are unable to enter the ground floor because the building is now at risk due to the collapse of the columns. So, we are taking the help of the army,” he made the remarks while replying to a question from reporters after visiting the site of the blast in Fulbaria area of Gulistan. Since the Fire Service chief spoke, the chairman of RAJUK has however been able to confirm that everyone inside has, to the best of everyone's knowledge, been evacuated. “The explosion took place at 4:50 pm. On receiving the news, our team reached the spot within seven minutes. As the building is risky, we cannot enter now. But we will take it to a slightly stable level and then start the rescue operation on the ground floor. Work is currently underway,” the Fire Service chief said. “The army's help will be taken in the rescue operation, that's why the excavator came. So far, the death toll is 15 and the number of injured is 40. If we have more information, we will let you know later,” the DG added. The Fire chief also deliberated on possible causes behind the disaster, although he was careful to add that at the time, nothing was known for certain. "We spoke to the members of the owners' association here a while back and they said there was no gas line below but there was a water line. There was a water reservoir. We still don't understand what the reason for the explosion is. The army's expert team has arrived. They will now work to see if there is any other reason. We'll let you know - it'll take a while,” he said. When asked if they found evidence of any explosives, Brig General Md Main Uddin: "We have not received anything like this so far. As of now, I can't say why this happened. An army expert team has come and they will look into the matter and an expert team of the police has come. We hope to come to a conclusion together with the police and the army.” Brig General Md Main Uddin did dangle out one clue as he wrapped up his presser, saying there were eight shops on the ground floor of the building: "All of which sold sanitary products."