18 BNP men suffer burns in gas balloon explosion in Tongi

At least 18 BNP activists and supporters suffered burn injuries as gas balloons exploded inside a room in Gazipur’s Tongi area this evening.

The injured were taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.

The incident took place around 4:00pm inside a club room next to Sena Kalyan Garments building at Tongi Bazar, according to witnesses and party supporters.

Md Rabiul Islam, a supporter of Gazipur-2 BNP candidate M Manjurul Karim Rony, said the rally was scheduled to be held in Tongi’s Cherag Ali area in the evening.

Ahead of the rally, leaders and activists gathered in a club room in the Sena Kalyan Market area. Some activists and supporters went into the room to collect gas balloons that had been prepared earlier for the rally.

“The balloons burst, and the fire spread quickly. Those inside the room suffered burns,” said Rabiul.

The injured were first taken to a local hospital and later brought to Dhaka by ambulance, he said.

Doctors at the emergency department of the burn institute said at least 18 burn victims arrived at the hospital. Most of them sustained burns to their hands, faces and different parts of their bodies.