Dhaka building explosion: Sufficient expertise to carry out probe, says HM

Bangladeshs Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Wednesday that the country has sufficient expertise to carry out the investigation into the powerful explosion that ripped through a building in Dhaka and killed at least 17 people and vowed that the findings of the probe will be made publicAt least 17 people were killed and over 100 others injured on Tuesday in the explosion at Old Dhakas crowded Gulistan areaTalking to reporters after visiting the explosion site on Wednesday Khan said members of bomb disposal units and police army and fire service personnel will conduct the probe into the incident But if the countrys experts fail to investigate we will seek assistance from foreign experts he said The investigation must be impartial There is no reason for the investigation to be partial he was quoted as saying by the Daily Star newspaper Everything regarding the investigation will be made public Khan saidThe authorities handed over the bodies of the 17 people who died in the explosion to their relatives on Wednesday said Inspector Bachchu Mia incharge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police outpostA fourmember probe body headed by Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury director of Fire Service and Civil Defense Operation and maintenance has been formed to look into the cause of the explosionThe committee has been tasked to submit its report within five working days said Shahjahan Sikder an official at the Fire service and Civil Defense headquarters Among the injured 11 people have been undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery United News of Bangladesh reportedMeanwhile three firefighting units started the rescue operation for the second day on Wednesday Though the Fire Service resumed its rescue and recovery efforts for a second day at a blast site the work is moving slowly because of the risky condition of the buildingAlso read In London Rahul Gandhi calls RSS fascistAccording to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police DMP the building is in a dangerous conditionThe beams and pillars in the basement of the building are damaged and operating heavy machinery in the area such as excavators could create vibrations that might cause the building to collapse said Zafar Hossain deputy commissioner of the Lalbagh zone of DMP The experts are already holding a meeting They will come here and will give further instructions The rescue work is still incomplete he was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune newspaperOnce the Fire Service fully resumes its operation and removes the debris only then it will be possible to confirm if anyone is trapped there he added Officials fear the death toll will likely go up as many of those rescued are critically injuredPrime Minister Sheikh Hasina who is currently in Doha for the United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries has prayed for the peace of the departed and urged authorities to take prompt action to ensure better treatment of the injuredTuesdays explosion occurred two days after another exposition at a building in Dhakas Science Laboratory area that killed three people and injured several others Last week seven people were killed in an explosion at a private oxygen plant in the southeastern port city of Chattogram injuring dozens of othersThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever