LP gas cylinders are being sold freely at the corners of Satkhira city and upazila town and even in small stalls of the village by defying government laws and policies. So, on one hand, the risk of life is increasing, on the other, unlicensed illegal traders are benefiting.
Starting from the district town, there is a rush to sell gas cylinders illegally in alleys of upazila level. But there are specific policies for the sale of explosives and there are no opportunity to sell it anywhere without clearance from the Department of Energy and Explosives.
But now, from tea shops to grocery stores, drug stores, fruit shops, decorator shops and even hawkers are selling gas cylinders. At Rasulpur More, Circuit House More, City College More, Kadamtala, Palashpol, Munjitpur, Food Office More, Narkeltala, Kamal Nagar Bau Bazar, Madhumallardangi, Bus Terminal, Judge Court Junction, Hat More, Bangaler Bazar, Sultanpur in Satkhira district town, these cylinders are being sold in various shops randomly.
Gas cylinders are being sold freely in almost every grocery store in the alleys inside the municipal city but the administration is silent for unknown reasons. As a result, people's lives are being put in danger everyday. In this regard, a mobile court was conducted in 2019 last under the direction of the district administration and there was a lot of reduction in sales. Since then, no administrative action has been taken against the sale of unlicensed cylinders.
While the mobile court was operating, some traders were fined and severely warned, but now most of the traders have forgotten about it. Although there is a mention of strict surveillance by the district administration including the Department of Power and Mineral Resources to sell and stockpile gas cylinders, only a handful of traders are openly selling gas cylinders with trade licenses, citing general business from the municipality and UP chairman.
However, according to the law, only 10 gas-filled cylinders can be kept for retail sale, subject to the approval of the concerned authorities, including fire-fighting system to prevent fire accidents. If it is more than that, it must have the mandatory permission of the Department of Explosives.
The number of shops selling gas cylinders is increasing day by day as no legal action has been taken against them.
Every street in the city, suburbs and even at every corner of the alleys, this business is quite frozen. The customers are being deceived. The Department of Power, Energy and Explosives, which is in charge of overseeing these irregularities, has not been able to take effective action for unknown reasons. The general public is at grave risk as a result of selling gas cylinders everywhere.
On the spot, various hat-bazaars and important roads of the district were visited, where LP gas cylinders were being sold at random. Although gas cylinders are sold in thousands of shops, only a few have license. Ordinary people are in dire straits as gas cylinders are being sold in these unauthorized shops. Consumers have to buy at a higher price than the price fixed by the government.
According to government regulations, gas cylinders for sale must have a semi-finished house with a minimum level of flooring, fire-fighting cylinders with fire service clearance and a strong and risk-free storage. A trader will be considered eligible to register for sale of LP gas subject to fulfillment of these conditions.
Under the Combustible Conservation Act of 2003, a person who operates an explosives business without a license is liable to imprisonment for up to three years and an additional fine. There is also a provision to confiscate all the goods of the business organization if necessary. But nobody seems to care about the rules.
Multiple unauthorized sellers of LP gas cylinders said, “We used to sell these cylinders from Labib Gas House at the post office More of the town, Urmi Enterprise and Oishee Enterprise in the town market area bringing them from Lashkar Group. But now they arrive with a pickup truck loaded with gas cylinders even before we run out of supplies”.
Meanwhile, several traders at the upazila level said that, gas cylinders are now available at every street grocery store, cloth shop, drug store, tea shop, aluminum shop, bird show shop, fertilizer and pesticide seller's shop, welding workshop and even fast food seller's shop in every street of the district including villages, hats and bazaars.
In tea shops, the scene of lighting a cigarette, sitting next to gas cylinders are seen almost always. Major accidents can happen at any time and accidents are increasing day by day due to lack of administrative supervision. Ordinary people are living in extreme risk. Meanwhile, some easy bikes plying in the city are being used for transportation by installing gas cylinders.
In this regard, Majid Alim, a cylinder seller and a few other shopkeepers said, "We sell cylinders at a profit of Tk 10/20." Asked if he had a license, Al Mamun Hossain of Kolaroa and Alim of Shyamnagar said, "I have a trade license from the Union Parishad for selling groceries."
Why is the administration silent if gas cylinders are being sold everywhere with the trade license of the Union Parishad. The concerned quarters of the district have sought immediate intervention of the concerned authorities including the district administration to take urgent steps.
Habibullah, Khulna War House Engineer (in charge of Satkhira) said, I am in charge of Satkhira region but I don't go there. I can't say exactly what the traders are doing. Saying this, he hurriedly put down the phone. He did not receive a call after repeated attempts to contact him.
