Dhaka: Stakeholders at a roundtable discussion today urged all to build awareness about liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) use and installation as lack of awareness regarding the safe handling of LPG often leads to fatal accidents. Although uses of LPG have increased in the country due to a shortage of natural gas, public awareness about the safe handling of LPG has not been built accordingly, they observed.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the roundtable discussion was organized by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), LPG Owners Association of Bangladesh (LOAB), and Energy and Power Magazine. The event was titled ‘Bangladesh’s LPG Sector Faces Rising Safety and Regulatory Challenges’, with Mohammad Amirul Haque, president of LOAB, chairing the session. Energy and Power Editor Molla Amzad Hossain moderated the discussion, while BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed addressed it as the chief guest.
Jalal Ahmed highlighted the growing importance of LPG due to the natural gas crisis, stating that its use is increasing daily. He emphasized the need for national-level safety campaigns and proposed introducing training and policies for LPG safety. Professor Yasir Arafat Khan from the Chemical Engineering Department of BUET stressed the necessity of complete safety training for sellers and users, pointing out unauthorized storage and lack of safety equipment in many areas.
Khan further revealed that 90 percent of LPG stations operate without valid licenses from the Department of Explosive, indicating widespread non-compliance and lack of safety verification. He noted the absence of specialized LPG training programs and licensing systems, which allows untrained technicians to perform high-risk maintenance works. The annual demand for LPG in Bangladesh currently stands at 1.5 to 1.8 million tonnes, with illegal cross-filling of LPG cylinders from autogas stations potentially leading to new accidents.
Professor Yasir referred to the Bailey Road explosion, explaining that the fire spread rapidly due to the presence of gas cylinders throughout the building, possibly due to a leakage during transportation. LOAB President Amirul Haque acknowledged that while LPG prices are reasonable, safety cannot be ignored, advocating for a joint compliance initiative by BERC and the Department of Explosives.
BERC member Syeda Razia Sultana and LPG Autogas Station Association President Sirajul Mawla also emphasized the importance of awareness for both LPG users and stations. Mawla identified substandard equipment and lack of proper knowledge among users as primary safety concerns.