On 7 March 2023, an explosion happened in a market in Dhaka, Bangladesh killing at least 17 people while more than 140 were injured.[1][2] The explosion took place at around 5:00 p.m local time in a busy market building in Siddiq Bazaar in Old Dhaka.[3]

2023 Dhaka explosion
Date7 March 2023 (2023-03-07)
Time5:00 pm BST
LocationDhaka, Bangladesh
Coordinates23°43′18″N 90°24′37″E / 23.7217°N 90.4104°E / 23.7217; 90.4104
Causeto be determined
Deaths17
Non-fatal injuries140

Background

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This was the third explosion in Bangladesh within a week after explosion at an oxygen plant in Sitakunda and another building on Dhaka's Mirpur Road.[4] Similar explosions have occurred in the last two years in Bangladesh, most notably the blast inside a four-storied Moghbazar building that resulted in the collapse and abandonment of the building.[5]

The explosion occurred at a store that sold sanitation materials on the building's ground floor.[6] Authorities were not able to immediately provide the reason behind the explosion.

Response and casualty

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More than 140 people were brought to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. No fire broke out after the explosion. More than 150 firefighters were at the site to assist in rescue efforts.[7] The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said that gas accumulated in the basement of the building may have caused the explosion. However, the director of Titas Gas, Mohammed Salim Mia, said that he did not find any evidence for this.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "7 killed, 70 injured in explosion at crowded Dhaka market". The Times of India. 2023-03-07. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  2. ^ "14 killed, nearly 100 injured in explosion in Bangladesh's Dhaka". India Today. Archived from the original on 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  3. ^ PTI (2023-03-07). "14 killed, over 100 injured as explosion rocks seven-storey building in Bangladesh's capital". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  4. ^ "17 killed in explosion at commercial building in Dhaka". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-08. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  5. ^ "Dhaka: More Than a Dozen People Dead, Scores Injured in Explosion". The Wire. Archived from the original on 2023-03-08. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  6. ^ "Bangladesh: Blast At A Building In Dhaka, 11 Killed, More Than 100 Injured". Zee News. Archived from the original on 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  7. ^ "Bangladesh building explosion kills at least 17; scores hurt". AP NEWS. 2023-03-07. Archived from the original on 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  8. ^ "RAB: Gas accumulated in basement may have caused Gulistan explosion". www.dhakatribune.com. 2023-03-08. Archived from the original on 2023-03-08. Retrieved 2023-03-08.