A firefighter named Shamim Ahmed, who was severely burnt in an explosion at a chemical godown in Tongi, Gazipur, passed away on Tuesday afternoon while undergoing treatment.
Shamim, a leader of the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD), was working at Tongi Fire Station.
He died while undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) at around 3pm on Tuesday.
Dr Shawon Bin Rahman, the resident surgeon at the institute, confirmed the death and stated that four people with burn injuries were brought to the institute. Shamim had suffered burns over 100 per cent of his body. He was admitted to the ICU, where he eventually succumbed to his injuries.
Three people are now undergoing treatment here in this incident. Two of them are in critical condition, he said.
Shamim’s elder brother Ruhul Amin shared that their family hails from Pijhati village in Kendua upazila, Netrokona. Shamim used to live in Tongi with his wife and their three children.
He said that Shamim had served in the fire service for around 20 years and was recently promoted to the position of leader.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon at around 3:30pm near Sahara Supermarket, in a chemical warehouse located in Tongi BSCIC area.
Being informed, seven units of firefighters promptly rushed to the spot. While combating the blaze, a sudden, explosion occurred, injuring four firefighters along with several others.
Fire service Media Wing Official Talha Bin Jasim in a press statement said that Shamim Ahmed joined the fire service in August 2004. Fire-fighter Shamim Ahmed died at 3pm on Tuesday in the explosion at a chemical godown in Tongi.
His funeral prayer (Namaz-e-janaza) will be held at the Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters after Maghrib prayers, he said.
The official stated that in the past 54 years, a total of 48 members of the Fire Service have lost their lives while performing their duties. Of these, 32 were firefighters.
Over the last decade alone, approximately 24 Fire Service personnel have died, and around 386 others have sustained injuries in the line of duty, the official added.
