Officials from Titas Gas Company encountered obstacles from local residents while carrying out an operation to disconnect an illegal gas connection in Munshiganj.
Witnesses reported that around 1pm on Tuesday, Titas Gas personnel arrived in the Laskardi area of Hossaindi union in Ghazaria upazila to disconnect the unauthorized gas connection.
In response, the locals obstructed vehicles and confronted Titas Gas officials, raising slogans in protest.
The situation was eventually brought under control when the police intervened.
Suruj Alam, deputy general manager of the Sonargaon Regional Marketing Division at Titas Gas, explained: "We initiated the operation in the morning to disconnect illegal gas connections in the Jamaldi Bus Stand area of Ghazaria upazila. After disconnecting a few smaller lines in the bus stand area, one of our teams proceeded to disconnect a larger line in the Laskardi area."
"However, upon sensing our presence, the local residents became angry and blocked our progress. The police swiftly intervened and restored order. We are making efforts to resume operations in the area," he added.
Upon speaking with the protesters, it was revealed that they had established connections by paying substantial sums of money through local brokers.
Titas Gas authorities had previously severed their connections multiple times, but they managed to resubscribe and reconnect.
The locals are now urging administrative intervention to rectify the situation by legalizing all illegal gas connections in Ghazaria.
Additional Superintendent of Police of Munshiganj Sadar-Gazaria Circle, Thandar Khairul Hasan, stated: "Titas Gas officials encountered obstacles from locals while disconnecting the illegal gas connection in Lashkardi. However, the police swiftly responded to the scene and effectively diffused the situation."
