Ramganj (Lakshmipur) Correspondent:

In Ramganj Municipality, Lakshmipur Upazila, Ramganj, and 10 unions, including various markets, petroleum fuel oil and cylinder gas of various companies are being sold illegally without the license of the Divisional Explosives Department and inspectors. Accidents are frequently occurring due to the sale of these cylinder gases and fuel oil without regard to the law. In addition, conscious circles are afraid of major accidents and loss of life due to fire.

It has been seen on the spot that some unscrupulous traders are keeping unlicensed cylinder gas in various shops without signboards in front of Dakshin Bazar, Ramganj High School, in front of the residence of former Minister Zia-ul-Haq Zia, behind the police station, on the Wapda canal, and supplying it to various areas of the city and upazila in the morning, afternoon and night, and are evading government revenue.

It seems that there is no one to take care of this. Apart from this, more than two hundred (200) business establishments including Ramganj Bazar, Kalabagan, Sonapur, Padmabazar, Panpara, Balua Chowmuhani, Hanubaish, Alipur, Kamar Road, Paniala, Hotatia, Shirshoi, Turi, Nagmud, Shaktala, Rajarampur, Akartama, Bhatta, Laxmidhar Para, Bishnupur, Hapania, Nagmud Bazar, Turi Bazar, Athakra Bazar, Kamarhat, Bakultala, Beribazar, Majhirgaon, Daggatli, Dudhrajpur, Kachua, Sheikhpura, Chowdhury Bazar, Noagaon Bazar are illegally operating the business of petroleum national fuel oil and cylinder gas of various companies without licenses.

Traders have been selling octane, petrol, diesel and LP gas cylinders in various shops including local grocery shops, tea shops, paan shops, cloth shops, rod cement shops, shoe shops, hardware shops, chicken shops and work shops in open areas on the sidewalks of roads for a long time without permission from the administrative or explosives department.

It is learnt that in addition to obtaining a license for selling petroleum fuel oil and bottled gas, there is a provision to keep fire extinguishers in these business establishments. However, these traders are continuing the fuel oil and cylinder gas business like a normal business without paying attention to the rules and regulations. It has been seen on the ground that not a single one of their shops has a fire extinguisher.

Ordinary traders and conscious people in the local market believe that if any of these business establishments catches fire inadvertently, the entire business area in the market will be destroyed. This will put the traders at risk of life as well as financial losses. Therefore, they have sought the intervention of the administration, including the relevant higher authorities, to take prompt legal action against illegal institutions in the interest of public safety.