15 killed as deadly explosion hits commercial building in Bangladesh

At least 15 people have been killed and 140 injured in an explosion inside an office building in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, police and fire service officials have said.

The explosion shook the fourth and fifth floors of a five-storey building in Gulistan, a major hub for wholesale goods in the capital, shortly before 5pm local time (11:00 GMT) on Tuesday (Mar 7).

Authorities could not immediately provide the reason behind the huge explosion in the bustling commercial area.

No fire broke out in the building but more than 150 firefighters were at the site to assist in rescue efforts, a fire services spokesperson told reporters.

A middle-aged man in a blood-soaked shirt told reporters he had been injured in the blast, which shattered windows and damaged a wall of the building.