Death toll from Friday’s explosion in the Narayanganj mosque reached 25 last night with fire officials suspecting that the incident took place due to leak in a gas pipeline that runs beneath the mosque. The leaking gas line thought to be the cause of huge explosion. It is suspected gas accumulated inside the Pashchim Talla Baitus Salam Mosque, and a spark that probably led to the explosion, leaving at least 40 people severely burnt, as per local reports.
In our present situation owing to negligent and corrupt officials the real reason for the tragic gas explosion may never be known. It is reported that gas was leaking for a long time and the matter was brought to the Titas officials. But nobody took it seriously for urgent action.
Titas Director for Operations Rana Akbar Haideri said that primarily they were suspecting that it was an illegal gas connection that finally exploded. If negligence of Titas officials is detected, we will take action immediately, he said, adding that the authorities formed a five-member committee to investigate the matter. There is a famous wisdom among bureaucrats if the responsibility is to be shifted and confusion created then form a committee to investigate.
Fatullah Police Station Officer-in-Charge Aslam Hossain said that police filed a case with allegations of negligence to death in the incident. The FIR mentioned that negligence from the mosque committee, electricity and gas utility service providing authorities have led to the blast, the OC said.
So the maze of confusion will continue. The fact is whether Titas was informed of the leakage of gas and it’s the responsibility of the mosque committee to follow it up on urgent basis. There is also allegation of asking bribe money. That is the general practice in the whole of government. If there is substance in the allegation even then mosque committee’s carelessness cannot be ignored. The leakage of gas is so dangerous the committee members should not have wasted time to force Titas to take appropriate action. Corruption should not have been any reason for not taking it seriously.
Now there will be many police cases and harassment for corruption of other kinds. But the most important consideration should have been the safety of them who went for their prayers. There was negligence in getting things done for saving lives of the mussallies.
We are living in a situation where we are helpless to corruption. Therefore, we are concluding that in this particular situation corruption was the factor. We are talking of the truth that we live with corruption. To expect an honest person to do his job honestly has become impossible.
We are even forgetting the duty of saving lives. Deaths have become regular affairs. Killing is no offence for some people. For the police it is a normal law and order duty. Lies and corruption are everywhere.
Some people will lose their jobs, some people will be sent to jail before trial but there will be negligence and there will be corruption. We need a government with a sense of accountability and honesty to make us all responsible and accountable.
If Titas came to know about the life threatening danger from gas leaking then money or no money, bribe or no bribe, its officials should rush and act immediately. We hope the honest enquiry to find out the negligent ones.
