The eight officials and employees of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Co Ltd, who were earlier suspended in the case of a suspected gas pipeline explosion at a Narayanganj mosque, were put on a two day remand.
The district’s Senior Judicial Magistrate Kawser Alam granted the two day remand yesterday afternoon though the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police had sought five days for interrogating them.
The investigation officer of the case, Inspector Md Babul Hossain, confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
The eight officials and employees of the gas company were arrested from different places in Narayanganj and Dhaka earlier in the day, revealed Mainul Hasan, deputy inspector general (DIG) of CID’s Dhaka Range, at a press briefing at Narayanganj CID headquarters.
The eight officials and employees initially suspended and now arrested, are: managing engineer Md Sirajul Islam, deputy managing engineer Mahbudur Rahman Rabbi, assistant engineer SM Hasan Shahriar, assistant engineer Manik Miah, senior supervisor Md Munibur Rahman Chowdhury, senior development worker Md Ayub Ali, chief assistant Hanif Miah, and assistant Ismail Pradhan.
These four engineers and four other employees were based at the gas company’s Fatullah office in Narayanganj.
At the press briefing, DIG Mainul Hasan, said: “Based on evidence and information from eyewitnesses, we have arrested the eight officials and employees of Titas, who were earlier suspended for their negligence in connection with the Narayanganj mosque blast incident.”
"During this investigation, we will arrest all persons against whom evidence can be found in connection with the incident,” the DIG added.
On September 7, Titas Gas issued two separate letters suspending eight of their personnel for negligence in duty. They also issued show cause notices.
On September 10, police handed over the Narayanganj mosque explosion case to the CID.
The same day, a CID team led by Narayanganj CID Inspector and newly appointed Investigation Officer, Babul Hossain, visited the mosque and surrounding areas.
They collected information from eyewitnesses to the incident and other case related evidence.
On September 4, more than 50 people, including women and children, were injured in an explosion during Isha prayers at the Baitus Salat Jame Mosque in West Tolla.
37 people were seriously burnt. As of Saturday, 33 people have died and one has returned home. The condition of the remaining three people is also critical.
