Six of the 11 people who were undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery following the fire incident at Bailey Road in the capital will be released from the hospital on Saturday.
Health Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen said this after monitoring the condition of the patients in the afternoon.
He said: “According to the decision of the 17-member medical board, it was decided to release six of the 11 patients under treatment at the burn institute. The remaining five will be under treatment as they are not out of danger. The six people who will be released are doing fairly well.”
The health minister added: “On Friday night, the prime minister called me and asked me to take whatever care is necessary for the patients. Their medical expenses will be borne by the Government of Bangladesh and the prime minister herself. Accordingly, we have a prime minister's fund here. She has sent some money to that fund today (Saturday).”
“Five people under treatment have swollen airways. They have a little complication in their lungs. That is why we are not releasing them now,” he added.
At least 46 people were killed, and over 20 others sustained severe injuries by a devastating fire on Thursday night.
Firefighters rescued 70 people, including 42 in unconscious state, from the rooftop and different floors of the seven-storey Green Cozy Cottage.
The fire broke out at around 9:45pm.
Most of the people died as they jumped off the building or from burns or suffocation, said firefighters who brought the fire under control around 12:30am.
Fire officials say the blaze spread fast due to the presence of gas cylinders on several floors in the restaurant kitchens. People could not leave the building due to smoke in the staircase.
