Despite frequent severe accidents due to gas cylinder explosion, people do not seem bother to follow the safety measures regarding the everyday essential yet explosive pressure vessels. Around 80 percent of the gas cylinders used by CNG-run vehicles are not retested regularly. Out of nearly 500,000 such gas cylinders only 92,000 have been retested so far, sources said.
Use of gas cylinders have been increasing every day. Currently around two crore gas cylinders are being used in the kitchens of houses and restaurants across the country. Gas cylinders are also being used in various shops even in footpaths posing serious threat to pedestrians.
Due to poor quality of gas cylinders, and indifference and negligence of the authorities concerned, this essential commodity becoming unsafe and dangerous day by day. Over the years, numerous people have been killed and injured across the country in fire caused by gas cylinder explosions. Cylinders of compressed natural gas (CNG) used in vehicles, liquefied petroleum gas (LGP) used for cooking and the ones used by balloon sellers, all types of gas cylinders have been proven unsafe.
Recently in a tragic accident, six children were killed and at least 20 injured after a balloon seller’s gas cylinder exploded at Mirpur in the capital. Three members of a family were killed by gas cylinder explosion of an ambulance at Anowara Upazila in Chattogram last month.
In February this year, at least 78 people were killed at Chawkbazaar in the capital by fire which also caused by a parking car's gas cylinder explosion. The last five years’ statistics shows that more than 300 gas cylinder explosions have taken place killing more than 200 people across the country.
Authorities concerned say that it is compulsory to test the quality of the cylinders being used in vehicles, houses or restaurants in every five years. If the retesting result is positive, authority allows three years more to use them. However, users are apathetic to follow the safety measures properly.
All types of high-pressure gas cylinders – helium, LPG, CNG, and hydrogen – should be used with caution, said Sultana Razia, Professor of Chemical Engineering of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Department of Explosives maintains the standard of cylinders. There is a rule to re-test the cylinders under the supervision of the explosives department in every five years. The production and distribution companies are allowed to use it for the next 3 years after passing the test.
According to information provided by the government's Transformed Natural Gas Company Limited, the number of CNG-operated vehicles including private cars in Bangladesh is more than five lakh. The company also approves CNG conversion centers. They have approved more than 180 conversion centers so far, but only 10 to 12 are in operation.
Chief Inspector of the Explosives Department Md. Samsul Alam told Bangladesh Post that it is not their job to see whether the cylinders are safe or not. The companies that produce those gas cylinders are responsible to test the LPG cylinders’ safety. Urging Bangladesh Road Transport Authority to inspect the cylinders used in vehicles he said, “Many vehicles are using risky cylinders, which causes accident. To ensure safety we can work jointly.”
He also mentioned that they are continuously sending letters to the companies concerned to raise awareness about the use cylinder. The department is also publishing advertisements as a part of their awareness campaign.
