Living with ‘gas bombs’

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The villagers of Brahmandi union in Araihazar thana of Narayangaj district have been flirting with danger for years, using unsafe ‘gas balloons’ for cooking.

The polythene balloons are connected to a gas line with plastic pipes, a process that can cause a fatal accident anytime, say experts.

The villagers said they collect gas at the dead of the night when the pressure is high.

In two visits to the village, this Prothom Alo correspondent found that the households were hanging the ‘gas balloons’ either inside their rooms or on trees next to their houses.

According to the users, an arrangement for using the gas costs between Tk 3,000 and Tk 6,000.

Officials of the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited said the process of collecting the gas is risky and illegal as well.

Nurul Islam, a resident of Baliyarapara village, said almost all households collect and preserve gas this way.

Titas Gas director (operations) HM Ali Ashraf told Prothom Alo that the whole process is posing a huge threat to the area. If there is a fire, the whole area will explode, he added.

The residents say use of these 'gas balloons' has become popular in the areas as there are no gas connections.

Firoza, another resident in the area, said a local influential quarter and the chairman forced them to take these illegal gas connections three years ago.

They had to pay Tk 40,000 in several instalments, but the gas supply was stopped just after 13 days.

The locals also alleged that the public representatives and their supporters are encouraging the people to use the illegal gas connections and the gas balloon system.

When contacted, Brahmandi union chairman Luck Mia denied the allegation, saying that he has no idea about the matter.

Asked about the gas connection at his home, he said, “It has been brought from my factory that has a legal connection.”

Titas Gas Sonargaon zone manager Abdul Momen Talukdar said, “The gas connections in several unions of Araihazar, especially Brahmandi union, are illegal.”

Narayanganj’s member of parliament Nazrul Islam over phone said, “This is the first time I am hearing that gas is preserved in polythene bags. If Titas takes legal action, I will help them in this regard.”

The officer-in-charge at Araihazar police station also said he has no idea about this.

Asked about how are the villagers using illegal gas for such a long time, Titas officials said they have failed to stop illegal gas connections due to non-cooperation of the local representatives and influential political figures.