The last two people who survived the blast at a mosque in Narayanganj are slowly recovering but are not out of danger yet.
Kenan, 24 and Amjad Hossain Fakir, 35, were shifted to the general ward from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery a few days back.
When this correspondent went to the hospital to get updates on their health, Dr Partho Shankar Paul said even if they (Kenan and Amjad) feel better now, what needs to be kept in mind is that both of them are burn victims and are slowly getting better. However, they are still not out of danger.
Amjad, a driver of a covered van at a garment factory, talking about what he saw during the incident, said on that night after the prayers, he and his brother-in-law, Imam Hussain Imran, were talking in front of the gate inside the mosque.
While collecting his shoes next to the gate, Amjad’s hands got dirty. When he went to wash his hands and just as he took some water in his hands, a huge explosion took place. Before he realized anything, his body caught fire.
“I ran out and shouted to people for water and many of them came forward with water. I ran towards them. Soon my family members first took me to a hospital in the Victoria area. From there, I was brought to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery on the same night,” Amjad said.
“Imran was severely burnt in the blast and died three days later while undergoing treatment. Amjad is doing better now,”said Amjad’s father, Abdul Ahad.
Doctors said Amjad’s body sustained 25% burn injuries. Amjad is from Noakhali and lives in the Talla area with his five year old daughter and wife.
Also read - PM gives 5L to each of 35 Narayanganj blast victim families
Meanwhile, Kenan, the other surviving burn victim, was sitting in a chair in another ward with his maternal aunt Khadija Begum taking care of him.
Asked how he was feeling, Kenan replied: “Much better now. Pray for me. I hope I can go home healthy.”
Kenan is still frightened whenever he thinks of the incident. He started to cry thinking of the blast. His relatives asked him to forget about it but he said: “As much as I want to forget, I can't.”
Kenan suffered 30% burn injuries on his body.
Khadija said: “Kenan lives with us and used to work at a garment factory. He was in the village for three months due to the pandemic and was again looking for a job. He had planned to bring his wife and son to Narayanganj from Patuakhali, after finding a new job.”
Also read - Death toll rises to 34 in Narayanganj mosque blast
On September 4, 34 people out of the 37 injured, died in the explosion at Pashchim Talla Baitus Salat Jame Mosque in Fatullah around 8:45pm after Esha prayers.
One other person was released from the hospital after receiving treatment.
