Narayanganj mosque blast kills 12

At least 12 people have died at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) today after they sustained burn injuries in an air conditioner explosion during prayers at a mosque in Narayanganj.

Deceased were identified as Jewel, 7, Rashed, 30, Rifat,18, Mostafa Kamal, 34, Zubair, 18, Sabbir, 21, Kuddus Bepari, 72 Delwar Hossain, 48, Zunayed, 17, Humayun Kabir, 70, Ibrahim, 43 and Jamal, 40.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the hospital authorities to ensure the best treatment of the injured.

All of them died at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka while undergoing treatment there till Saturday morning, confirmed Dr Partha Sankar Pal, resident physician of the institute.

"None of the hospitalised after the incident is 'out of danger yet," he added.

At least 50 Muslim worshippers sustained burn injuries in the explosions at Baitus Salah Jame Mosque on Friday night.

The authorities also believe gas that accumulated inside the mosque after pipeline leaks may have triggered the blast that caused the window glasses, some with the frames, fly onto the street and burnt ceiling fans, electric switchboards and wires.

The explosion took place when the Muslim worshippers were about to end their Isha prayers. Many of them were saying Sunnah (optional) prayers after Fard (compulsory) during the incident, Narayanganj Superintendent of Police Mohammad Zayedul Alam said after the incident.