Protoday247 News DHAKA: There were at least 17 people killed and dozens wounded after a gas pipeline allegedly exploded at a Bangladesh mosque, “After the abrupt blast with a big bang I saw smoke belching out of the mosque, and people were shouting. Some were rolling down the street attempting to put out the flames on their bodies, “local resident Mohammad Ratan said.
Fire officials said the gas that had collected in a pipeline running under the mosque potentially caused the blast. “We believe mainly that gas spilled out of the pipeline and collected indoors because the windows were locked. The explosion was possibly caused when the air conditioners were turned on because of sparks, “said Abdullah Al Arefin, a senior fire service official.
Authorities launched an inquiry into the incident. Domestic and industrial fires in Bangladesh are frequently blamed on inadequate controls and poor compliance. 71 people were killed by an inferno in a centuries-old Dhaka city in February last year. A month later, 25 people were killed when the fire broke out in an upscale part of the capital in a 22-story commercial building.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has expressed sincere condolences on behalf of Pakistan over the disaster. “Deeply saddened by the loss of life in the incident at the Narayanganj Mosque. Our sincere condolences to the Bangladeshi government and people and prayers for the early recovery of all those wounded in this tragedy,” he said.