Dhaka: Dr. Chong SI Jack has arrived in Dhaka from Singapore to provide advanced treatment to the firemen injured in the explosion at a chemical warehouse at Tongi in Gazipur district on Monday.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Jack went directly to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Upon arrival, he held a meeting with the NIBPS director and physicians around 11:30 pm on Tuesday, as stated in a press release from the fire service.
Before engaging in the meeting, Dr. Jack exchanged views with Professor Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser for the Ministry of Health. Following this, Dr. Jack visited the burn institute to see the injured firemen.
During his visit, Lieutenant Colonel MA Azad Anwar, Director (Training, Planning and Development) of the Fire Service and Civil Defense Department, and other officials were present. Dr. Jack inquired about the latest condition of the injured firemen.
Dr. Jack was previously involved in a medical team from Singapore that responded after the fighter jet crash at Milestone School and College in Uttara, Dhaka, on July 21.
The explosion at the chemical warehouse in Sahara Market, Tongi, Gazipur, resulted in burn injuries to four fire personnel as they were extinguishing a flame that erupted in the warehouse around 3:29 pm on Monday. Seven firefighting engines managed to bring the fire under control around 7:00 pm after about two hours of efforts.
Firefighters Shamim (42) and Nurul Huda (40) suffered nearly 100 percent burn injuries. Fire Officer Khondoker Jannatul Nayem (35) sustained 42 percent burn injuries, while firefighter Joy Hasan (24) received five percent burn injuries, reported NIBPS Resident Surgeon Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman. “The condition of Fire Officer Khondoker Jannatul Nayem is still critical,” he stated.
With the passing of Shamim and Nurul, the number of firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty has reached 50, according to FSCD sources.