A fire caused by gas escaping from underground during the drilling of a deep tube well in Inani, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, has continued for four consecutive days. Authorities have imposed Section 144 within a 200-metre radius of the fire site to control the situation and ensure public safety.
Meanwhile, experts believe the site could potentially become Bangladesh’s 31st gas field.
On Friday (October 30) night, senior officials from Petrobangla and the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) visited the site.
Shamsia Muktadir, general manager of the geology division at BAPEX, said preliminary observations indicate a strong possibility of a gas field in the area.
However, she warned that forcibly extinguishing the fire under the current circumstances would be extremely risky.
According to her, the situation will be monitored for the next 15 days. If the fire does not go out naturally during this period, authorities will take steps to seal the gas outlet. She also said BAPEX has the capacity to bring the situation under control using its own resources.
Petrobangla Director (Operations and Mines) Engineer Mohammad Shoaib, who also visited the site, said the dark appearance of the flames at night had raised the possibility of mineral oil being present underground.
Section 144 Imposed Within 200 Metres
For public safety, Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Panna Akter issued an order imposing Section 144 within a 200-metre radius of the fire.
All activities that could generate sparks have been prohibited in the restricted area.
Law enforcement agencies have also erected barricades and suspended vehicle movement on two connecting roads from Marine Drive.
Electricity supply was previously suspended as a precautionary measure. Authorities are now attempting to restore power through alternative arrangements.
Fire Started During Tube Well Drilling
The fire first broke out on Tuesday (October 27) while a deep tube well was being drilled in the courtyard of Mostafa Sikder’s house in Inani.
Experts have warned that attempting to extinguish the flames through temporary or makeshift measures before stopping the underground gas flow could cause fire to spread beneath the surface, potentially triggering a much larger disaster.
As a result, the next 15 days of careful monitoring and the subsequent measures taken by BAPEX will be crucial in determining both the outcome of the incident and the possibility of discovering a new mineral resource in Inani.
