Expired gas cylinder found after Ashulia factory fire

An expired gas cylinder was found among the cylinders that exploded during a fire at a factory compound in Ashulia’s Jamgora area, raising questions about the use of expired cylinders for gas transportation.

The cylinder, which landed on a hotel owned by Abdul Halim, had “Don’t use after 2021” engraved on it. The cylinder was still being used despite having passed its stated expiry date.

Hafizur Rahman, deputy assistant director (Zone-4) of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said a four-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident, with Kazi Nazmuzzaman, assistant director (Dhaka) of Fire Service and Civil Defence, as its chairman.

The Dhaka district administration has also formed a separate five-member committee involving officials from different departments.

The committee, headed by the additional district magistrate, includes officials from Fire Service, the local upazila administration, the Department of Explosives and the local police station. It has been asked to submit its report within seven working days.

The committees were formed yesterday (21 September).

Blast impact felt 300 yards from factory

The fire broke out after gas cylinders on a covered van exploded inside Pretty Industrial Park, owned by the Pretty Group, in Jamgora.

The intensity of the explosions was evident from the accounts of local residents. At around 6:45pm, a powerful explosion shook the area, with its impact felt as far as 300 yards from the incident site.

A woman and a mobile vegetable vendor who were some distance away were killed after fragments of the exploded cylinders struck them.

Locals said several more explosions occurred one after another following the first blast. People nearby ran for safety as the explosions and fire caused panic.

At a two-storey building around 300 yards from the site, a piece of metal apparently thrown by the explosion pierced the wall of a second-floor room, leaving cracks and two large circular holes.

Nazma Begum, a resident of the building, said she had gone to the adjacent dining room while talking on the phone when a powerful blast shook the building and scattered furniture. She then ran downstairs with her daughter.

“We have not even completed six months since constructing the building. Who will compensate us for our losses?” she asked.

During a visit to the area, it was found that a food hotel and another shop located some distance from the main site had also been hit. A hole was created in the shop beside the hotel after being struck by an exploded cylinder.