On March 7, 2023, a massive explosion occurred in a building in Siddique Bazar, Gulistan, in the capital. The incident claimed the lives of 26 people and left over a hundred injured. The explosion damaged two adjacent multi-story buildings—one seven-story and the other five-story.
The basement, first, and second floors of the seven-story building were destroyed, while the ground floor of the five-story building also suffered severe damage.
Two days after the incident, on March 9, Sub-Inspector Palash Saha of Bangshal Police Station filed a case against unidentified individuals on charges of negligent homicide.
However, even after two years, the investigating officer has not yet submitted the investigation report. He said that the investigation is in its final stages but has been delayed due to a lack of cooperation from Titas Gas authorities. He added that once contractor-related information is received, the report will be submitted soon.
According to sources, three individuals have been arrested in connection with the case. Two were granted bail in April 2023, and one in May.
The accused are Abdul Motaleb Mintu, Md Motiur Rahman, and Md Wahidur Rahman. The investigation report was initially scheduled to be submitted on February 27, but as it was not ready, the court extended the deadline to April 8.
The case statement by then-sub-inspector Palash Saha mentions that the explosion occurred at 4:40pm on March 7, 2023, at Queen’s Sanitary Market in Siddique Bazar.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the damaged building was not constructed following proper building codes and did not have approval for an underground basement.
Despite the lack of authorization, the illegally built basement was used for commercial purposes, storing and selling construction materials. The kitchen of "Queens Cafe," which operated using commercially supplied gas, underwent multiple renovations and interior modifications.
The building's owner and users continued to exploit the basement and ground floor for commercial use without ensuring proper gas leak management and sewer gas ventilation, prioritizing profit over safety.
The case also highlights that negligence by officials from various service providers, including gas, electricity, and sewerage authorities, as well as licensing officials, contributed to the disaster. Their greed and indifference enabled the building owner and tenants to engage in unsafe practices, leading to the tragic loss of lives and property destruction, which falls under Penal Code sections 304-K/427.
Investigation officer and police inspector SM Raisul Islam said: “There was no involvement of explosives in this incident. The explosion was caused by a gas leak. We are in the final phase of the investigation. If we receive a specific file from Titas Gas authorities, we will be able to conclude the investigation.”
He confirmed that the building and showroom owners were found to have been negligent. Furthermore, a 1.5-inch-diameter commercial gas pipe was connected to a 3-4 inch residential gas pipe without proper separation, which violated safety regulations.
During the investigation, it was also found that the lack of proper oversight by Titas Gas officials and contractor negligence led to a faulty gas connection. Gas leakage in the underground area formed a gas chamber, ultimately causing the explosion.
Inspector Raisul Islam said: “We need complete information on the gas supply—when the commercial connection was converted to a residential connection and through which contractor this was done.”
Despite court orders, since September 12, 2023, investigators have been requesting contractor-related records from Titas Gas authorities. However, they have not yet provided the necessary information, claiming that the specific file has been lost, while all other related documents remain intact.
