Death toll from mysterious mosque blast at Fatullah of Narayanganj has climbed to 21, said hospital sources.
The deceased include Abdul Malek (60), imam of the mosque; Md Nizam (40); Bahauddin (60); Rasel (30); Kanchan Howlader (40); Nayan (27); Rashed (30); Rifat (18); Mostafa Kamal (34); Zubair (18); Sabbir (21); Kuddus Bepari (72); Delwar Hossain (48); Zunayed (17); Humayun Kabir (70); Ibrahim (43); Jamal (40); Joynal (38); Mainuddin (12); and Jubayed Farazi (6).
Most of the bodies were handed over to family members.
Dr Samanta Lal Sen, coordinator of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said the remaining injured are in critical condition and fighting for life.
An initial assessment showed that people sustained burn injuries due to air conditioner (AC) explosion.
Rejecting the claim, Fire Service and Civil Defense said the blast was caused by gas leakage.
Two sensational dimensions of the incident have surfaced.
Mosque committee of Baitus Salat Jame Masjid in Fatullah informed the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd of the gas leak around nine months ago, but it was unheeded.
It is alleged that the mosque was constructed illegally on the gas supply line.
Abdul Gafur, president of Mosque Committee, said Titas Gas Ltd did not entertain their complaint for failure to pay the TK50,000 in bribes.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid voiced stern action, if negligence of anybody from Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company is proved.
He made the statement while visiting the Baitus Salat Jame Mosque at Fatullah in Narayanganj Saturday afternoon.❐
