By NNN-BSS,
Dhaka, Bangladesh : A apparently mysterious explosion on a major state-run corporation complex at Motijheel in the city today killed at least one person and injured five others sparking a massive blaze damaging three floors of the six storied building, police and witnesses said.
They said an unusually loud explosion rocked the commercial hub of the city, which was fortunately almost barren on the Hindu community’s Durga Puja holiday today.
The subsequent blaze immediately engulfed the upper three floors of the building after it sparked on the second floor.
“The explosion broke windowpanes of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation) BCIC Sadan building, throwing objects like heavy air conditioners and computers 50 yards away from the building,” police sub inspector Tazul Islam told BSS at the scene.
Several witnesses said the explosion threw away heavy air condition machines and computers to be bumped against American Life Insurance Company building, 50 yards off the BCIC office.
He said six people who were apparently inside the building were critically injured and one of them later succumbed to his wounds after being rushed to a hospital.
“The causalities could be much higher had it been occurred during the normal office day in the busy area,” said a journalist who witnessed the rescue campaign at the scene.
Nine fire brigade units rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire after two hours of hectic efforts but witnesses said the blaze seemed to have burned most furnishers, papers and gadgets and equipment like computers and air conditioners.
Fire Brigade officials or police could not immediately ascertain what caused the blast, which came days after an escalated security vigil on major government complexes was ordered.
Elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police and fire service personnel arrived at the spot and took up position immediately after the fire while security officials said a investigations would be carried out to see whether it was an act of sabotage.