The rescue operation by the fire service at the Siddikbazar blast site in Dhaka's Gulistan has been postponed for tonight

Two people among the 19 killed in the blast at Siddique Bazar in the capital’s Gulistan were from Munshiganj

The building that was damaged in the explosion in Siddikbazar may be demolished soon, said Haidar Ali, general manager (transport) of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC)

Fire service officials paused the rescue operation around 5:30pm after the blast-ravaged building in Gulistan's Siddik Bazar was declared "highly risky"

After visiting the spot yesterday, the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials suspected five reasons behind the blast in Gulistan's Siddikbazar area

At least 19 persons were killed and over 100 injured after an explosion took place at a building in Gulistan's Siddikbazar area yesterday

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said the government was looking into the recent incidents of explosion and fire to check whether the BNP had a hand in those after failing in their movement

The two bodies were recovered from the basement of the seven-storey building

"The gas riser device in the building is intact. The evidence we have collected using a gas detector also does not indicate it was an explosion due to gas," said Md Salim Miah, director operations of the operation division at Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Co Ltd.

Relatives of the missing victims of yesterday's Gulistan blast have kept their eyes fixed on the rescue team, who resumed their operation this afternoon.

But when there is a leak and gas accumulates inside a closed space or room, it is akin to a ticking time-bomb. And when that accumulated gas comes in contact with a spark from an electric short-circuit or when someone lights a matchstick, an explosion rips through the room.

"Around 4:30 or 4:45pm, the ceiling and the walls began to collapse following a big blast. I cannot remember much of what happened afterwards."

At least 487 people died and 712 were injured in 439 road crashes in February alone, according to a report of Road Safety Foundation

According to their primary observations, the seven-storey building is in a risky state now, and the slab of the ground floor has also collapsed

In light of previous experiences, Kamal Uddin said he has the ground to suspect it could be a case of sabotage.

"But if the country's experts fail [to investigate], we will seek assistance from foreign experts," the home minister said

"The rest of the patients who are being treated at different wards, units and burn wards are improving gradually"

The missing persons are Md Mehdi Hasan Swapan, Md Robin Hossain, and Imtiaz Mohammad Bhuiyan

"Rescue personnel could not start operations at full scale until they are given clearance from authorities"

Ten people, who were injured in yesterday's explosion at Gulistan, are undergoing treatment at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery and are all in critical condition.