Use of expired gas cylinder in vehicles goes unabated in Lakashmipur

The use of expired gas cylinders in vehicles violating official directives has become rife across Lakshmipur resulting in a number of accidents across the district.

Yet the administration seems to turn a blind eye to the problem, alleged the locals.

There were 15 gas cylinder-related accidents in the district last year.

Local sources said gas cylinders are being used in around 15,000 vehicles in the district and most of them have no expiry dates. Gas cylinders are supposed to be examined after five years but owners and drivers of the vehicle are not following the rules.

Most of the drivers are unaware about the rules and expiry dates of the cylinders. They accused the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) of handing over fitness certificates in exchange of bribes without checking the conditions of the vehicles. However, the BRTA officials rejected the allegation.

Forkan Chowdhury, assistant director of BRTA, said they issue fitness certificates after checking the dates of the gas cylinders.

“We don’t give fitness certificate if the vehicle uses local cylinder,” he said. “Explosion-related accidents occur due to local cylinders.”

He said they check the certificates when drivers come to take fitness certificate every year.

“We examine retesting certificate after five years. After checking certificate and gas cylinder, we give fitness certificate. We also often conduct drives through mobile court,” he said requesting everyone to be aware about rules of using gas cylinders.

Md Iqbal Hossain, deputy director of Lakshmipur fire service and civil defence, said gas cylinder explodes when it expires.

“It’s necessary to retest gas cylinders before the expiry date. If everyone follows rules of using gas cylinder, the number of accidents will decrease,” he said.