The death toll from the deadly explosion in a seven-storey building in Dhaka’s Gulistan area rose to 21 as rescuers pulled out one more body from the rubble of the collapsed building this morning. 

However, the body was recovered around 11:30 am after rescue operations resumed today for the third day on Thursday (March 9).

Anwarul Haque, vice-principal of the Fire Service Training Complex confirmed the matter.

On Tuesday, at least 17 people were killed and over 100 were injured in a massive explosion in the building near a BRTC bus counter in the capital’s Gulistan area.

Meanwhile, two bodies were recovered from the debris yesterday.

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 4:50pm 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.

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 investigate the explosion.

The committee was asked to submit its report within five working days, said Shahjahan Sikder, Deputy Additional Director of Fire service and Civil Defense headquarters media cell.

BDST: 1247 HRS, MAR 09, 2023
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