Gas line fire disrupts factory production in Narayanganj, over 100 units affected
Business Report :
Production at numerous industrial units in Narayanganj came to a halt on Wednesday after a fire broke out on a Titas Gas transmission line, cutting off supply to gas-dependent factories. The fire occurred near the Bscic industrial area, along the Panchabati-Muktarpur flyover transmission line, following leaks at two points.
The disruption affected textile, garment, and other industrial units connected to the transmission line. However, factories located inside the main Bscic industrial zone remained operational. Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and owner of a factory in the affected area, told The New Nation “that the fire originated from gas line leaks at two separate locations.” “Only the factories connected to this specific line have halted production; those inside the Bscic industrial area were not affected,” he clarified. Razib Kumar Saha, deputy managing director (Narayanganj) of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC, confirmed the incident and said the fire was caused by a contractor working on the flyover. “The leakage occurred while the contractor was performing construction work.
This is not the first time such incidents have occurred. We have repeatedly requested in writing that all contractors coordinate with us during such operations, but they have not complied,” he said.
Titas Gas workers were already repairing the line, and authorities expected the gas supply to be restored by night. Shahid Alam, deputy managing director of Shah Fatehullah Spinning Mills Limited, said gas supply to his factory stopped around 3:30pm and had not resumed by 8:30pm.
He added that over a hundred factories connected to the line were facing similar production halts.
The incident also caused injuries. Local sources reported that Yasin Arafat, an employee of Shahjalal Glass Center, was hurt in the fire and later sent to the Dhaka Burn Unit for treatment.
Industry sources expressed concerns that such disruptions could affect production schedules, export orders, and worker wages if the gas supply is not quickly restored. They also called for stricter safety protocols and coordination between contractors and gas authorities to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The fire highlights the vulnerability of industrial operations in Narayanganj to infrastructure accidents, especially for gas-dependent factories that form the backbone of the country’s textile and garment export sector.