Death toll from Bangladesh mosque AC blasts climbs to 26

The number of fatalities from the mosque air-conditioner explosions in Narayanganj has jumped to 26 after five more victims died from their injuries on Sunday.

Another 11 people are battling for their lives at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka after near-simultaneous blasts of six air-conditioners during prayers at the Baitul Salat mosque on Sept 4.

As many as 21 victims of the blasts died until 11pm on Saturday, said Partho Shankar Paul, the resident physician of the institute.

The latest victims, Monir Farazi, 30, and Abul Bashar Molla, 51, died on Sunday night. The others who died earlier in the day were Julhas Uddin, 35, Mohammad Ali Master, 55, and Shamim Hasan, 45.

Shamim was the treasurer of the ill-fated mosque’s governing body, according to Fatullah Model Police OC Aslam Hossain.

Law enforcers inspect the damage inside the Baitul Salat Jame Masjid in Narayanganj’s Fatullah after six air-conditioners simultaneously exploded during the nightly prayers, leaving 11 people dead and dozens hospitalised, September 5, 2020.

The authorities have handed the bodies of 20 victims over to their loved ones, the OC said. They have been laid to rest at a local graveyard, he added.

The other victims are the mosque’s Imam Abdus Sobhan, 60, Muezzin Delwar Hossain, 50, his son Junayed, 16, Md Nizam, 40, Nadim, 40, Md Baharuddin, 55, Kuddus Bapari, 72, Mostafa Kamal, 34, Jewel, 7, Md Rashed 30, Humayun Kabir, 72, Jamal Abedin, 40, Ibrahim Biswas, 43, Md Rifat, 18, Mainuddin, 12, Joynal, 38, Nayan, 27, Kanchon Howlader, 50, Jubayer, 18, Jubayer’s brother Sabbir, 21, and Abdul Malek.

Some of the victims worked at readymade garment factories.

All the victims at the institute have suffered at least 30 percent burns, including on airways.

More than 50 Muslim worshippers sustained burn injuries when the air-conditioners exploded during prayers at the mosque.

The authorities believe gas accumulated inside the mosque after pipeline leaks may have triggered the blasts following an electric short-circuit.

The Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, state gas transmission and distribution agency Titas and the district administration of Narayanganj have each formed a committee to investigate the explosions.