Fire Service and Civil Defence authorities have resumed rescue operations after Tuesday's explosion in the capital's Gulistan which by far has claimed 18 lives.

The rescue operation ended around 11pm last night.

According to fire service officials, it was not possible to carry out the rescue operation in the basement of the building, which is currently in a "risky" state. As a result, the operation was delayed till Wednesday morning when experts from Bangladesh Armed Forces are expected to join the fire service officials.

At least 18 persons were killed and over 120 were injured in the blast in a five-storied building housing a sanitary shop and the Brac Bank's Gulistan branch office.

At present, 11 units and 5 ambulances are working at the scene, said Fire Service Director (Operation and Maintenance) Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury.

Police have said a total of 17 bodies were handed over to their families till Wednesday morning. One of the injured, Mohammad Siam, 20, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

On Tuesday evening, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruq said the casualties and injured were rescued from the explosion and taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

After inspecting the treatment programme of the blast victims, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said majority of the deaths occurred due to bleeding from head injuries sustained by the blast debris.

Rescue operations ended before Tuesday midnight. Due to the risky state of the building, it was not possible to go into the basement, the fire service told the media.