Police investigators believe Moghbazar blast was caused by gas

A police committee investigating the explosion that triggered the partial collapse of a building in Dhaka’s Moghbazar believes it was caused by gas.

The probe committee members working to determine the cause of the explosion that destroyed a building and killed seven people in Dhaka’s Moghbazar on Tuesday, Jun 29, 2021. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi The probe committee members working to determine the cause of the explosion that destroyed a building and killed seven people in Dhaka’s Moghbazar on Tuesday, Jun 29, 2021. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

The wife of Abul Kashem, a bus driver who was killed in the Moghbazar blast, holds her husband's coffin as the ambulance leaves the Dhaka Medical College on Monday, Jun 28, 2021. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi The wife of Abul Kashem, a bus driver who was killed in the Moghbazar blast, holds her husband's coffin as the ambulance leaves the Dhaka Medical College on Monday, Jun 28, 2021. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

The seven-strong team, led by Additional Commissioner Asaduzzaman, visited the building on Tuesday and found traces of 12 percent methane in the air.

“The source of the gas cannot be confirmed now. The least we can assume is that the gas caused the explosion,” said Asaduzzaman, adding that they were working to find out the source of the gas.

Asaduzzaman, who is working in the police’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit, also ruled out explosives behind the incident.  

On Monday, investigators from the Department of Explosives found traces of hydrocarbon gas in the three-storey building. Natural gas and crude oil are mixtures of different hydrocarbons.

The Fire Service and Civil Defence also suspects that gas from leaks accumulated in the building, leading to the explosion.

The authorities, however, are not ready to jump to a conclusion before the investigation is complete.

Benazir Ahmed, the inspector general of police, had earlier said they did not believe it was a bomb blast or there was a foul play behind the incident.

At least eight people were killed in the incident, which rocked the Wireless Gate area on Jun 27. Hundreds, including many pedestrians and commuters, were also injured.