After visiting the spot yesterday, the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials suspected five reasons behind the blast in Gulistan's Siddikbazar area. They are:

1. Gas might have accumulated in the underground water tank in the building resulting in the explosion.
2. Accumulation of biogas or methane gas in the Septic tank might have caused the blast.
3. Leakage from a concealed gas line or a disconnected (previously connected) gas line might have created a channel underground. Or methane gas might have accumulated gradually within the walls. In both cases, the ignition of the gases by any means might have caused it.
4. Gas might have entered the building from a leakage in the sewerage system making the building a gas chamber.
5. A witness said the building had a large generator, which might be the reason behind the blast.

Read more

At least 17 killed, over 100 hurt in Gulistan explosion

Contacted, Rahmat Ullah Chowdhury, in-charge of the Bomb Disposal Unit of CTTC unit, said they suspect the accumulation of gas in a confined place in the building made it a gas chamber.

The explosion took place when the gas somehow came in contact with an electric spark or any other kind of ignition, he said.

Read more

2 more bodies recovered, death toll now 19