Compressor Explosion in Narayanganj: One-Month-Old Infant Dies, Seven from Two Families Critically Injured

In a tragic incident in Narayanganj’s Siddhirganj, Hirajheel residential area, a refrigerator compressor explosion triggered a fire that claimed the life of a one-month-old infant, Imam Uddin. The infant passed away at 7:50 AM on Sunday, August 24, 2025, while receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka.

Among the injured, Imam’s father, Hasan (35), and his wife’s elder sister, Asma (30), are currently in the ICU. The other five victims are admitted to the High Dependency Unit (HDU). The condition of the injured, particularly the children, is critical due to severe burns affecting their respiratory systems.

According to doctors and relatives of the victims, the fire caused burns covering 30 to 55 percent of the victims’ bodies. Tisha (17) and Arafat (15), children of Tanjil Islam, are among the injured, writhing in pain with their bodies wrapped in bandages. Hasan’s family has also been severely affected, with his wife Salma (32), four-year-old daughter Jannat, and 11-year-old Muntah also sustaining serious burn injuries. **Read More**: *Refrigerator Fire Leads to Compressor Explosion, Nine Including Women and Children Burned* *August 23, 2025* Dr. Sultan Mahmud Shikdar, Acting Residential Surgeon at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, told Prothom Alo, “Of the eight burn victims, one-month-old Imam Uddin has passed away. Hasan and Asma are in the ICU, while the others are in the HDU. Except for one, all are in critical condition. We are doing our best to provide the highest level of care.” Rakibul Islam, Hasan’s younger brother, told Prothom Alo, “My brother Hasan and his wife’s elder sister Asma are in the ICU. My sister-in-law and nieces have also been severely burned. My brother is a day laborer, and the daily medical expenses are overwhelming.” He added, “I find it hard to believe that a refrigerator compressor caused a fire that burned nine people from two families. I suspect that a gas leak from a Titas gas pipeline running beneath the house caused the explosion.” He demanded a thorough investigation to uncover the true cause of the incident. When asked about the allegations, Miran Mia, Senior Station Officer at Adamjee Fire Station, told Prothom Alo that the fire broke out around 3:30 AM on Friday due to an electrical short circuit, which caused the refrigerator compressor to explode, engulfing the entire room in flames. He clarified that no Titas gas pipeline was found beneath the house, and no smell of gas was detected at the scene.