Gas theft in Chittagong

Illegal gas line of Bay Washing Industries being disconnected by a mobile court in Chittagong yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

The mobile court detected the theft by Bay Washing Industries Limited, set up on more than 4,000 square feet land at Hazi Yakub Sawdagar Lane in Gosaildanga.

The factory was found stealing gas through tampering the meter after destroying the lead-seal of the meter installed on the main supply line of Bakharabad Gas System Limited.

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It was also stealing gas through several other illegal connections from the main supply line of BGSL, by-passing meter, sources in the mobile court said.

It was further revealed that the factory illegally set up two drying machines, run with the stolen gas.

The factory stole gas worth at least Tk 96 lakh in last eight years.

The mobile court disconnected the illegal lines and seized the pipes and materials.

Neither the owner nor the manager of the factory was found during the drive led by Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Magistrate Mohammad Munir Chowdhury.

The officials and BGSL team were assisted by Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) during the drive from 10 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon.

BGSL is preparing to file case against the company, sources said.

earlier, the same mobile court in last three weeks unearthed four cases of gas stealing through illegal lines in the port city.

The mobile court disconnected illegal gas connections at A One Food and Pragati Biscuit at Pashchim Madarbari Jugichand Masjid Lane under Double Mooring thana on January 8.

It demolished an illegal salt factory for stealing over one lakh 15 thousand Cft gas a day through illegal connections at Firingee Bazar Yakub Nagar on January 4.

The price of the gas stolen by the five factories including the Bay Washing Industries Limited is about TK 10 crore, the sources said.