Dhaka: The namaj-e-janaja of firefighter Nurul Huda was conducted at the Fire Brigade and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters in Dhaka, following his death from burn injuries sustained during a chemical warehouse explosion in Tongi, Gazipur. The tragic incident occurred earlier this week, and Huda succumbed to his injuries at the burn institute in the capital.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the janaja was attended by Special Assistant to Chief Adviser Md. Khuda Baksh Chowdhury, FSCD Director General Brigadier General Muhammad Jahed Kamal, and several officials from various ranks of the ministry. A press release from the FSCD detailed that prior to the janaja, Md. Khuda Baksh Chowdhury paid tribute to Nurul Huda’s coffin, and a smart team of firefighters provided a guard of honor. A brief biography of the deceased was recited, and his father delivered a short speech, followed by prayers led by Muhaddis Kazi Sharif Ullah.
Participants then lined up to pay their final respects to Nurul Huda before his body was transported by ambulance to his village home in Dhameel, Gafargaon Upazila, Mymensingh district, where he will be laid to rest. Nurul Huda, 40, passed away at approximately 3:40 pm at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS), marking the second fatality among four injured firefighters from the incident.
The explosion occurred at a tin-shed chemical godown in Sahara Market, Tongi, Gazipur, while firefighters battled the blaze around 3:29 pm on Monday. Seven firefighting engines managed to control the fire after nearly two hours of effort. Alongside Huda, firefighter Shamim, 42, also succumbed to nearly 100 percent burn injuries. Fire Officer Khondoker Jannatul Nayem remains in critical condition with 42 percent burns, and firefighter Joy Hasan sustained five percent injuries, as reported by NIBPS Resident Surgeon Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman.
With the deaths of Shamim and Nurul Huda, the number of firefighters who have died in the line of duty has reached 50, as confirmed by FSCD sources.