Three Family Members Burnt in Bomb-Like Object Blast

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.

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 office. The injured were identified as Shaha Alam Howlader’s wife, Honufa Begum, 60, their younger daughter, Iti Akter, 19, and Fahim, 14, the son of their middle daughter.

According to relatives and police, the explosion took place inside an abandoned room previously used for storing firewood. At the time, Honufa Begum, her daughter and grandson were walking around the courtyard of the house. The sudden blast reportedly caused flames to engulf parts of their bodies, leaving all three with serious burn injuries.

In an attempt to save themselves from the fire, the three victims jumped into the nearby Payra River. Local residents subsequently rescued them and took them to Bakerganj Upazila Health Complex for initial treatment.

Doctors at the health facility provided emergency medical care before referring the injured to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, as their condition was considered serious.

Dr Tarikul, a physician at Bakerganj Upazila Health Complex, said the three victims had sustained burn injuries to different parts of their bodies. Given the severity of their injuries, they were referred to the medical college hospital for specialised treatment.

Police have since secured the reported blast site and begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Officers are also seeking to determine how the bomb-like object came to be inside the abandoned room and who may have placed it there.

Adil Hossain, officer-in-charge of Bakerganj Police Station, said three people were injured in the explosion at the village of Dudhalmou. The victims were receiving treatment at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, he said.

Police have been deployed at the scene as a precautionary measure. The officer said it was not yet clear who had left the object at the location or for what purpose. Investigators would examine the circumstances and take legal action based on their findings, he added.

Mohammad Alaoul Hasan, additional superintendent of police (Crime and Operations) in Barishal, visited the scene following the incident. He said the Bomb Disposal Unit in Dhaka had been informed and that a specialist team was expected to examine the site.

Authorities said the expert assessment would be crucial in determining the nature of the object, whether it was actually an explosive device and how the blast occurred. Until the specialist examination is completed, the exact cause and origin of the explosion remain unclear.

The incident has also raised concerns about the presence of unidentified or potentially dangerous objects in abandoned structures. Police are continuing their inquiry, while the injured family members remain under medical care.