Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today told the parliament that it is necessary to verify whether mosques across the country have been constructed, taking approval from appropriate authorities and with proper designs, so that incidents like the blast at Narayanganj mosque do not recur.
Calling the incident "extremely tragic", she said air-conditioners are sometimes being installed in mosques in an unplanned way and some mosques are built without proper plans.
"It's absolutely essential to make sure if the place is suitable for construction of a structure or permission has been taken from appropriate authorities and design has been made properly. Otherwise, such incidents (like Narayanganj mosque blast) might happen any time," she told the parliament.
The premier said this while participating in the discussion on a condolence motion at the demise of two Awami League MPs -- Sahara Khatun and M Israfil Alam -- as well as former President of India Pranab Mukherjee and some other distinguished personalities who died since the prorogation of the 8th session of the current parliament on July 9.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion immediately after the House went into its 9th sitting at around 11:05am.
Later, the House adopted the condolence motion unanimously.
The PM said the government has already asked the authorities concerned to identify the reason behind the deadly explosion at a mosque in Narayanganj on Friday night that caused 24 deaths so far and injured several.
"Experts have visited the site and samples are being collected," she added.
Mentioning that six air-conditioners were installed in a small place (the mosque) and it is said that the mosque was constructed over a gas pipeline, the PM said, "Did Rajuk give permission (for construction of the mosque over a gas pipeline)? It (such permission) should not be given. Because, there is always risk. Now it will be investigated."
She said that her government has taken every possible measure to provide the best treatment to the injured, adding that she is receiving updates on them from Dr Samanta Lal Sen, coordinator of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
