A filling station named M/s. Sakib CNG & LPG Re-Fueling Station (LPG) Service in the Horgati area adjacent to the Pachilia Footover Bridge in Raiganj Upazila of Sirajganj is selling gas in cylinder bottles at a risky rate. They are selling LPG gas in these portable bottles without any regard for the rules and regulations.
The concerned are afraid that a terrible accident will happen at any time and there will be loss of life. Even after this incident happened under the nose of the administration for a long time, for some mysterious reason they have not been seen taking any action, whereas the Explosives Act states that LPG cannot be filled in any portable container other than a fuel container connected to a motor vehicle or any other automatic engine from an LPG distribution station engaged in fuel supply to automatic engines. And if this law is violated, there is a provision of 2-5 years imprisonment, a fine of 50 thousand taka and six months imprisonment in default.
There are allegations that Dr. Habibe Millat Rizvi, a former MP and a ally of the autocratic Awami League government, is Munnar's nephew. He is constantly selling gas in cylinders filled with bottles without thinking about the public. Because of that power, these gases are being illegally sold at a price of one hundred taka less than the market price.
Those concerned say that the process of filling gas cylinders in this way is extremely risky. There is a 100% risk of death due to an explosion during filling. The government is losing revenue due to these stations.
In this regard, I called M/s. Shakib CNG & LPG Filling Station Pvt. Md. Rizvi several times but he did not answer the phone. When I spoke to the manager Md. Masud Rana, he said that I was not there at night, the one who was on duty at night picked it up. I am dismissing this and will not deliver the gas in the cylinder bottle.
Investigation revealed that Messrs. Shakib CNG & LPG Re-Fueling Station received approval to sell LPG gas in 2018. Within a few months of receiving the approval, they started the illegal business of filling LPG in portable bottles wholesale and retail.
When talking to customers who came to buy gas, they said that it costs 1,500 to 1,100 taka to buy a cylinder of gas from gas sales centers. But here, you can get 10 liters of gas for just 500 taka. However, they also said that they are not aware that buying gas in this way is unsafe and a crime.
Assistant Explosives Inspector Rajshahi, Ashok Kumar Das said that this is a legal and illegal incident and appropriate action will be taken after investigating and verifying it.
The Raiganj Upazila Executive Officer of Sirajganj said that action will be taken very soon.
