Bangladesh
Dhaka Blast Moghbazar blast: A gas explosion or leakage wouldn't cause this kind of damage, says expert
Dhaka, June 29: Reacting to the Moghbazar blast, Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Secretary, Department of Energy and Mineral Resources, said that a simple explosions like gas leakage or cylinder explosions cannot cause the kind of damage that has taken place. The expert told reporters on Monday noon, after inspecting the building and the area affected by the blast.
"Our past experience says it is different. There may be other reasons behind this," he said.
"Today [Monday] we had a team from the Explosives Department visiting the scene. Three of our inspectors visited yesterday [Sunday] evening. Today we checked through a gas detector to find the existence of hydrocarbons at the scene of the explosion-damaged building. Which is natural gas i.e. officially supplied and connected through pipelines. We are also worried about the cause of such a big explosion," the expert said.
"We have formed a three-member investigation committee from the Explosives Directorate. I have asked the committee to submit an investigation report within the next seven working days," he added.
In response to a question, the senior official of the Explosives Directorate said, "The directorate is speculating that the explosion may have been caused by the accumulation of different types of gas. Many people have different ideas and opinions. We will be able to give clear reasons subject to further investigation."
Asked what he thought about the leakage, he said, "Explosives don’t just happen by accident. If there is a fire nearby, it could be from a cigarette or a spark. There may be electrical exploration, leakage in the gas line or explosion of the gas cylinder. We need to investigate further."
The blast took place at around 7:30 pm on Sunday (June 27) in the Wareless Gate area of Moghbazar, next to the showroom of fashion and lifestyle brand Aarong. Seven people have been reported killed so far in the accident. In addition, more than 60 people were injured. Seventeen of them have been admitted to Sheikh Hasina Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute. The rest have been admitted to various hospitals in the vicinity.
