Helicopter Balloons Ignite Chaos at July Uprising Day Event in Dhaka
Helicopter-shaped gas balloons were released at Dhaka’s Manik Mia Avenue on Tuesday, August 5, to commemorate "July Uprising Day" and symbolically mark the ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s alleged escape to India, organizers said.
At exactly 2:25 PM, amid a cheering crowd, hundreds of balloons in the shape of helicopters were released into the sky, painted in red and green. Earlier, around 2:15 PM, the distribution of the balloons was announced from the main stage, and a countdown led to their release. “Hasina was forced to flee in fear of the people’s uprising,” said Ahsan Habib, one of the participants holding a balloon. “This is our way of remembering that historic moment. It’s oddly satisfying.”
However, within five minutes, chaos erupted. A person from the crowd ignited one of the gas balloons using a pocket lighter. The balloon burst into flames, causing a rapid fire among nearby balloons. Several people were burned in the incident. One balloon’s flames reportedly reached a sound system cable, causing a fire that lasted for about three minutes before being extinguished using a drone. The crowd applauded when the fire was brought under control.
As of the latest reports, ten individuals were injured and treated at the emergency unit of the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. Residential medical officer Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman confirmed at 3:15 PM that “all ten victims have suffered minor burns and were released after primary treatment.”
The injured were identified as Mazharul Islam (27), Billal (45), Fahat (20), Md. Monsur Islam (38), Sharif (32), Palash (21), Md. Habibullah (23), Md. Yasin (25), Mishu (23), and Mihat (17).
Eyewitnesses reported that the green-colored balloons, representing a symbolic helicopter of the fleeing regime, bore the Awami League’s logo. "Suddenly, one man used a lighter to set a balloon on fire, and the flames quickly spread," said a witness. The incident, which began as a symbolic gesture, ended in a brief yet dangerous fire emergency, drawing attention to the risks associated with public displays involving flammable materials.
