Fatullah madrasa fire: Health state minister visits ailing students in hospital; safety checks urged at all Qawmi madrasas

Seventy-nine students have come to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for treatment after falling ill from smoke in a fire at the library of Jamia Ashrafia Qawmi Madrasa in the Signboard area of Narayanganj. Of them, 63 have been admitted to hospital for treatment and observation, while the remaining 16 were discharged after primary treatment and necessary assessment.

Four of the admitted students are in critical condition and are being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). Among them, 14-year-old child student Siam has been placed on a mechanical ventilator for artificial breathing support because his breathing condition is serious.

Meanwhile, Health State Minister Dr M A Muhit visited the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery at noon to see the ailing students. He enquired about the physical condition of the students under treatment and directed that all necessary measures be taken for their care.

Resident Surgeon (Emergency) Dr Sultan Mahmud Shikder of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery shared this information on Tuesday (10 November).

He said no visible burn marks were found on the body of any student who fell ill in the fire. However, as all of them inhaled smoke to a greater or lesser extent, their airways have been damaged.

Doctors and concerned health workers at the hospital are treating the affected students with the utmost priority.

After the fire broke out in the madrasa library, smoke spread quickly and the sleeping students began suffering breathing difficulties. They were later rescued and taken to hospital in stages.

The fire broke out in the library room on the second floor of the madrasa building late on Monday night. The incident took place at Jamia Ashrafia Madrasa, located at Shantidhara near Signboard in Fatullah, Narayanganj.

Following the incident, the board that runs these madrasas has called on all residential Qawmi madrasas in the country to inspect their electrical lines, fire-fighting equipment and emergency exits.

Al-Haiatul Ulya Lil-Jami’atil Qawmia Bangladesh made the call in a statement on Tuesday (10 November).

The statement said Al-Haiatul Ulya Chairman Muhius Sunnah Allama Mahmudul Hasan and senior ulama have expressed deep concern over the incident.

Teachers and students of the madrasa, local residents and members of the Fire Service carried out the rescue operation swiftly, and Al-Haiatul Ulya expressed gratitude to them.

The statement further said Al-Haiatul Ulya is praying for the speedy recovery of the injured students and has appealed to all Qawmi madrasas in the country and the Muslim community for prayers as well. It also urged the government and the concerned authorities to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured students and to quickly investigate the real cause of the fire.