The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Narayanganj Sadar Upazila has filed a chargesheet against 29 people in connection with the blast that killed 34 people at the Baitus Salat Jame Mosque in Fatulla Talla. Narayanganj CID Special Superintendent of Police Nasir Uddin said a supplementary charge sheet would be filed against the eight accused as they were government officials and subject to the approval of the appropriate authorities.
The chargesheet was filed in a court in Narayanganj on Thursday. Later in the evening, CID Special Superintendent of Police Nasir Uddin gave a press briefing at the CID office.
The accused in the CID investigation, the mosque's steering committee president Abdul Gafur Mia (60), said. Samsuddin Sardar (60), Md. Shamsu Sardar (57), Md. Shawkat Ali (50), Md. Asim Uddin (50), Md. Jahangir Alam (40), Md. Shafiqul Islam Ujjwal (45), Md. Naeem Sardar (27), Md. Tanvir Ahmed (45), Md. Al Amin (35), Md. Alamgir Sikder (35), Maulana. Al Amin (45), Md. Siraj Hawladar (55), Md. Newaz Mia (55), Md. Nazir Hossain (56), Md. Abul Kashem (45), Abdul Malek (55), Md. Monirul (55), Md. Swapan Mia (38), Md. Aslam Ali (42), Ali Tajam Milky (55), Md. Qayyum (38), Md. Mamun Mia (38), Md. Delwar Hossain, Md. Bashir Ahmed heart (28), Md. Rimel (32), Md. Arifur Rahman (30), Md. Mubarak Hossain (40) and Raihanul Islam (36).
According to the CID, a fire broke out at Baitus Salat Jame Mosque in the western part of Fatulla in Narayanganj district at 10:30 pm on September 4. Thirty-six worshipers and one pedestrian were burnt in the blaze. Of them, 34 devotees died while undergoing treatment at Sheikh Hasina Burn and Plastic Surgery Department under Dhaka Medical College and 4 are still undergoing treatment at their respective homes. The fire caused extensive damage to the mosque's AC, Thai glass and other items. As the case is of public importance, CID took charge of the investigation on 5 September, 5 days after the incident. During the investigation, the CID visited the spot along with the crime scene, collected material evidence and uncovered the root cause of the fire. Titas Gas T&D Co. for negligence of duty on the basis of evidence. Ltd. The CID arrested 8 officers and employees in charge of its Fatullah zone. They were remanded in police custody for two days. A total of 3 people including 1 meter reader and 2 electricians of DPDC were arrested.
The arrested electricians Mubarak and Raihan have given confessional statements under section 164 in the court regarding the illegal electricity connection. Abdul Gafur, president of the mosque committee, was also arrested after the investigation found evidence of negligence and mismanagement against the mosque committee.
The CID investigation revealed the root cause of the fire. For about three months before the incident, gas leaked from the Titas gas pipe next to the mosque and started accumulating inside the mosque. The mosque turned into a gas chamber as gas was emitted unhindered. When the intensity of the gas increased from 7-8 days before the incident, the worshipers informed the mosque committee about the matter. But the mosque committee did not take any action.
On the day of the incident, if the legitimate power line goes off during the Esha prayers, the electricity spark occurs when the illegal power line is turned on through manual changeover. Then a terrible fire broke out due to the combination of electric sparks and gas accumulated in the mosque. The locals immediately took the burnt devotees in autorickshaws and rickshaws to Narayanganj Victoria General Hospital. As there was no burn unit there, the burn victims were sent to Sheikh Hasina Burns Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. While undergoing treatment there, 34 devotees died in the fire and 4 devotees are currently at home after treatment.
The mosque committee's negligence in the proper management of the mosque, non-management, indifference, improper maintenance, risky installation of illegal electricity connections without considering the technical aspects, not taking any immediate action without considering the safety of the lives of devout worshipers despite the presence of gas. Ltd. (DPDC) meter reading collectors and electricians for illegally connecting electricity to the mosque and risky installation of electrical equipment inside the mosque and Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Co. Ltd. Its firefighters were killed and 4 others were injured when the fire broke out due to negligence on the part of Titas Gas in the area, failure to properly supervise the gas line, failure to repair leakage in the pipe, risky installation or relocation of the gas line. The CID's investigation found evidence that he was injured.
Since taking over the investigation, CID has conducted the investigation with utmost professionalism and relentlessness. Following a fair and impartial investigation, the CID has filed a chargesheet against a total of 29 people, including mosque committee president Abdul Gafur Miah, in connection with the blaze. As the accused are 8 more government officials-employees, supplementary chargesheets will be filed against them subject to the approval of the appropriate authorities.
Confirming the matter, CID Special Superintendent of Police Nasir Uddin told media that a chargesheet has been filed against 29 people in connection with the blast at a mosque in Talla on Thursday evening. Narayanganj court police inspector has admitted the truth of the incident. Asaduzzaman.
