Gulistan blast: Death toll increases to 18, rescue work continues today, 16 bodies handed over

The rescue operation in the blast-damaged building next to the BRTC counter in the capital's Gulistan will resume on Wednesday (March 8) morning. Deputy Director of Fire Services Deenmani Sharma confirmed the matter to TheReport.live. Earlier, the rescue operation was suspended around 11:15 pm on Tuesday.

This official of the Fire Service said on Tuesday night, "The rescue operation has to be postponed as of today (Tuesday). As the building is dangerous, it is not possible to go to the basement of the building. In the morning (Wednesday morning) when the army comes, the rescue operation will start again."

Meanwhile, the bodies of 16 of those killed in the blast have been handed over to their families. Senior Assistant Commissioner of Dhaka District Administration Subir Kumar Das confirmed the matter to the media that the bodies were handed over till 2 o'clock on Tuesday.

Those whose bodies have been handed over - Mominul Islam (38) of Islampur and his wife Nadi Begum (35), residents of Suritola, resident of Qatar. Sumon (21), resident of Chittagong Road Mainuddin Akhand (48), Md. of Alubazar area. Ismail (42), Ishaq Mridha (35) of Barisal, Rahat (18) of Keraniganj, Al Amin (23) of Matlab, Chandpur, Nazmul Hossain (25) of Banshal, Obaidul Hasan Babul (55) of Manikganj and Abu Zafar Siddiqui (34) of Munshiganj and Mansoor Hossain (40), Akrit Begum (70), Idris Mir (60), Hriday (20) and Nurul Islam Bhuiyan (55).

Apart from this, the district administration informed that each family of the deceased will be given 50,000 taka and 10,000 to 25,000 taka will be given for the treatment of the injured family members.

Dhaka District Commissioner Mohammad Mominur Rahman said, “All kinds of assistance will be given to the families of the victims. This assistance is being paid immediately.”