Three members of the same family suffered serious burn injuries after a bomb-like object exploded inside an abandoned room in Bakerganj upazila of Barishal on Monday morning. As flames reportedly engulfed their bodies following the blast, the injured victims jumped into the nearby Payra River in an attempt to escape the fire.
The incident occurred at around 6.30am on 3 August at the house of the late Shaha Alam Howlader, located behind the Bharpasha Union Parishad premises in Bakerganj. The injured have been identified as Shaha Alam Howlader’s wife, Hanufa Begum, 60, his younger daughter, Iti Akter, 19, and Fahim, 14, the son of his middle daughter.
According to relatives and police, the explosion took place in an abandoned wood-storage room on the property. At the time, Hanufa, Iti and Fahim were reportedly walking in the courtyard when a sudden, powerful blast came from the room. The explosion was followed by flames, leaving the three with burns to various parts of their bodies.
In a desperate effort to save themselves from the fire, all three victims jumped into the Payra River beside the house. Their cries alerted nearby residents, who rushed to the scene. Local people subsequently rescued the injured family members from the river and took them to Bakerganj Upazila Health Complex for emergency treatment.
Dr Tarikul, a physician at the health complex, said the three victims had sustained burns on different parts of their bodies. After receiving initial treatment, they were referred to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital as their conditions were considered serious and they required more advanced medical care.
Family members said the sudden explosion caused panic among those living in and around the house. They were unable to explain how the bomb-like object had ended up inside the abandoned room. It also remains unclear how long the object had been there or who may have placed it on the property.
Bakerganj Police Station officer-in-charge Adil Hossain said three people were injured in the explosion of a bomb-like object in the Dudhilmou area. The victims were receiving treatment at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, he said.
Police have deployed personnel at the scene as a precautionary measure. Officers are investigating who may have left the object in the abandoned room and why it was placed there. Investigators are also seeking to establish the exact nature of the object, how it came to be at the property and whether anyone was involved in placing it there.
Adil Hossain said legal action would be taken once the investigation establishes the facts and the necessary evidence is gathered.
Barishal Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Md Alaul Hasan visited the scene following the incident. He said authorities were treating the matter seriously and had informed the Bomb Disposal Unit in Dhaka so that the suspicious object and the site could be examined by specialists.
The expert team is expected to assess the scene and determine whether the object was actually an explosive device, what type of material was involved and how the blast occurred. Police said the findings of the specialist examination, together with evidence collected during the investigation, would guide the next course of action.
The incident has also sparked concern among local residents, particularly because the object was reportedly kept in an abandoned room where members of the family were living nearby. Authorities have repeatedly advised members of the public not to touch, move or inspect suspicious objects resembling bombs or other explosive devices. Instead, such objects should be left undisturbed and reported immediately to police or other relevant authorities.
Police have cordoned off the area and are continuing their investigation while awaiting the findings of the specialist team. The precise cause of the explosion and the origin of the bomb-like object are yet to be established.
