At least 18 activists and supporters of the BNP sustained burn injuries in a gas balloon explosion in Tongi, Gazipur, while preparing to attend a party rally. They were taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka for treatment.
The incident occurred around 4pm on Monday in a clubroom in front of the Sena Kalyan Garments building in Tongi.
Md Robiul Islam, a supporter of Gazipur-2 BNP candidate M Manjurul Karim Roni, said a rally for the candidate was scheduled to take place in the Cherag Ali area of Tongi. Ahead of the programme, activists and supporters, including followers of party leader Suman Sarkar, gathered in the Sena Kalyan Market area to prepare for the rally.
He said gas-filled balloons had been kept earlier inside a local clubroom and were meant to be taken to the rally venue. As activists rushed to remove the balloons from the room moments before departure, several balloons burst, triggering a fire that left those inside with burns to their hands, faces, legs, and other parts of the body.
The injured were immediately rescued and taken to a local hospital, from where they were later shifted to Dhaka by ambulance.
Some of the injured said they were unaware that the balloons contained gas and believed they were ordinary decorative balloons. During the rush to collect them, the balloons burst, causing the incident.
Dr Shaon Bin Rahman, resident surgeon at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said a total of 21 patients from the Tongi incident were brought to the institute. Their ages range from 11 to 38 years, with burn injuries covering between 1 per cent and 12 per cent of their bodies.
He said three patients have been kept under observation, while the others were given primary treatment and discharged. None of the patients suffered airway burns, and all are out of danger, he added.
