DHAKA, March 8, 2023 (BSS) - The Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) today formed a four-member probe committee to look into the explosion at two buildings in Siddiqbazar of Gulistan in city, seeing so far 17 people’s death including two women.
 
“The probe committee has been formed led by FSCD director (operation and maintenance) Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam,” said fire service duty officer Rashed Bin Khalid. 
 
The committee has been asked to submit the report within five working days, he said.
 
The joint rescue operation, as well, resumed at the explosion site here for the second consecutive day this morning as fire service personnel, members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)’s bomb disposal unit, Red Crescent Society, volunteers of Urban Community and other law enforcers joined it.
 
“We have resumed salvage operation at 9.30 this morning as an army rescue team might also join us”, said FSCD deputy director Babul Chakrawarty.
 
The vehicular movement on the roads adjacent to the spot remains closed due to the rescue operation as the security personnel cordoned off the explosion site.
 
Meanwhile, the Dhaka district administration has announced to provide Taka 50,000 to the family of each deceased in the blast that also left more than 100 people injured. 
The injured persons are receiving treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Sheikh Hasina Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute and Mitford General Hospital.
 
After receiving the news, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque rushed to the DMCH to see the casualties last night.
 
Earlier, a total of eleven fire fighting units reached the spot immediately after getting the information of explosion at the two buildings at Siddique Bazar, opposite of Phulbaria bus stand of Gulishtan, at 4.50pm on Tuesday, according to fire service officials.
 
“A total of 11 fire burnt patients were so far admitted to Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute”, its coordinator Dr Shamanta Lal Sen said.
 
The admitted patients include M Hasan, 32, Yasin, 26, Musa, 45, Khalil, 36, Azam, 36, Oli Sarder, 55, Al Amin, 25, Bachhu Mia, 55 and Mostafa, 50.
 
The ten burnt patients --- three remains  at ICU, two are in life support and the rest are at SDU-- are not out of danger at all, Dr Samanta said, adding their respiratory organs have been damaged due to the fire.

Concerned authorities have already identified the 17 deceased. They are - M Suman, 21,  Isahaq Mridha, 35, Munsur Hossain, 40, M Ismail, 42, Al-Amin, 23, Rahat, 18, Mominul Islam, 38, Nodhi Begum, 36, Mainuddin, 50, Nazmul Hossen, 25, Obaidul Hasan Babul, 55, Abu Jafar Siddique, 34, Akhuti Begum, 70, M Idris, 60, Nurul Islam Bhuiyan, 55, Hridoy, 20 and  Samrat, 18.
 
The explosion shattered window glasses of all the floors of the two buildings and it also caused damage to another two adjacent buildings, locals said.
 
Talking to newsmen, Jafar Hossain, Deputy Commissioner of Lalbagh zone of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said a committee comprising experts has also been formed aiming to carry out rescue operation in line with their opinion.