THE death and critical burn injuries of multiple family members in two gas explosions in Chattogram and Dhaka on February 23 present an alarming reminder of the persistent and lethal risks embedded within the fragile urban gas infrastructure. The incidents, occurring within hours of each other in residential buildings, underscore how routine domestic spaces have become sites of catastrophic danger because of suspected gas leaks and accumulation. Nine of a family, including three children, suffered severe burn injuries in an explosion in their kitchen at Halishahar in Chattogram after the accumulated gas burnt as the stove was ignited. Three victims have since died from the injuries while being treated in Dhaka while the remaining injured, with extensive burn, continue to receive critical care. The explosion also damaged doors and windows across multiple floors of the building, indicating its intensity and wider structural vulnerability risks. Within the same early-morning window, another explosion at Rayerbazar in Dhaka left four of a family, including a three-year-old child, with burn injuries after a suspected gas leak exploded when they were asleep. They were rushed to hospital, where medical authorities reported injuries ranging from 7 to 75 per cent.
The recurrence of gas explosion in residential buildings reflects structural neglect in the gas distribution system where ageing pipelines, illegal connections and weak regulatory enforcement continue to create conditions for preventable disasters. Fire service data over recent years show that hundreds of fires break out from gas leaks and because of related failures, suggesting that such incidents are neither rare nor unpredictable but part of a persistent pattern of infrastructural risk. Much of the urban gas network, particularly in Dhaka and Chattogram, is composed of decade-old pipelines that have deteriorated without replacement, increasing the likelihood of leaks. Illegal and unauthorised connections further destabilise pressure and compromise pipeline integrity while poor building design, lack of ventilation and unsafe placement of internal gas lines allow leaked gas to accumulate unnoticed. Oversight by distribution companies and regulatory authorities has remained largely reactive, with inspections typically intensifying only after fatal incidents rather than as part of routine preventive maintenance. This ongoing failure to modernise infrastructure and enforce safety standards has effectively normalised catastrophic risks in residential spaces. Without urgent nationwide pipeline inspection, removal of illegal connections and mandatory safety compliance in buildings, gas explosions will remain an inevitable and recurring threat to urban life.
The authorities should immediately initiate a comprehensive inspection of residential gas distribution systems, prioritising ageing pipelines and high-density urban buildings. Gas utility companies should be held accountable for leak detection, infrastructure maintenance and removal of illegal connections. Regulators must also enforce mandatory building safety compliance, including proper ventilation and certified gas line installation. Without urgent structural reform and strict enforcement, preventable gas explosions will continue to endanger lives.
