Four members of the same family were injured in an explosion that took place at Belka in Gaibandha's Sundarganj upazila.
The incident occurred when they were cutting a bottle-like object found in the Teesta River, mistaking it for treasure, on Saturday.
They suffered serious physical injuries, including in the eyes, wrists, and legs. Initially, they were admitted to the local upazila health complex and later transferred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
The injured were identified as Abdul Hakim Bhutu, 39, his wife Parvin Begum, 30, and their two sons, Faruk and Ripon.
According to police and locals, Abdul Hakim went to inspect his maize land on the banks of the Teesta River in the afternoon. During that time, he spotted a bottle-like object floating in the river and brought it home. The explosion occurred in the evening while the object was being cut with a domestic tool.
Sundarganj police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) KM Azmiruzzaman said: “The injured thought the object was a treasure. The explosion happened while they were cutting the glass bottle-like object. It is believed that the explosive-like substance inside it may have been washed away in the recent floods in Sikkim, India. There is nothing to panic about.”