Tragedy strikes family

We find it difficult to express our sorrow for the family of Shalin bin Nawaz who, along with his wife, are fighting for their lives due to the fire caused by gas accumulation in the kitchen at their apartment on February 26. Mr. Nawaz's two sons have died while a third is convalescing in Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The couple are in a critical medical condition. According to reports fire department officials have stated that there was a possibility of a gas leak which led to an accumulation of gas in the kitchen that triggered the explosion.

We will have to wait for the official inquiry to be concluded on what caused the explosion. However, this should serve as a wakeup call for every apartment resident to regularly check gas connections and for landlords to be more vigilant about maintenance. Authorities have a duty to perform monthly checks on gas lines for perforations in the line, because at the end of the day, utility authorities have a duty to make sure their lines are safe at the customer level. There is of course also a question of raising public awareness regarding the safety measures that should be adopted while using gas stoves such as making sure there is some form of ventilation in kitchens and remembering to turn off the stove after use. For this the electronic media need to be involved in disseminating information on how to maintain safety with gas connections.