Unauthorised conversion of vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is creating growing safety risks across the country, as poorly regulated installations and substandard cylinders increase the risk of explosions and fatal accidents.
Vehicles in the country are commonly converted from petrol, octane, or diesel to CNG or LPG systems, either as an alternative or supplementary fuel source. But experts say a large number of conversions are being carried out openly outside approved companies, raising serious public safety concerns.
Industry insiders say counterfeit or reused gas cylinders are being installed in vehicles at nearly half the price offered by recognised service providers. In many cases, old or discarded cylinders are cleaned and reintroduced into the market by little-known companies, despite regulations requiring strict certification and testing.
Official guidelines stipulate that gas cylinders must undergo safety re-testing every five years. In practice, however, many cylinders are never inspected again after installation. Some operators reportedly manipulate expiry dates to extend their usage, while cylinders that are supposed to be scrapped are instead resold and fitted into vehicles.
The CNG Station Owners Association says the spread of unregulated conversion workshops reflects weak oversight by both the Department of Explosives and the police.
Safety data from the Fire Service and Civil Defence shows a worrying pattern of accidents linked to vehicle gas cylinders. Explosions in recent years have been reported in areas including Sitakunda, Rangpur, Lakshmipur, Rajshahi, Dhamrai, Savar and Ashulia, causing injuries and deaths.
One of the most serious incidents occurred on 6 October last year in Abdullahpur in Uttara, where the gas cylinder of a private car exploded, injuring several people. Similar accidents continue to be reported across the country.
On 2 March, eight people were injured in a gas explosion at a car garage in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area.
The blast occurred at a garage on Humayun Road, where a private car had been taken for repairs earlier in the day.
Garage owner Md Mona said the explosion was caused by a gas leak from the vehicle.
According to him, mechanics were working on the car’s engine and gas line inside the garage when the blast suddenly occurred.
The owner and several workers who were inside the garage at the time sustained burn injuries.
Local residents claimed that repairing vehicle gas systems is not permitted in such garages, raising questions about safety practices.
Despite these incidents, the Department of Explosives says it does not bear responsibility for the accidents.
Former Fire Service and Civil Defence director general Ali Ahmed Khan told TIMES of Bangladesh that accountability often becomes blurred after such incidents.
“When accidents happen, there is a cycle of blame. The authorities responsible for approving and monitoring these systems are not doing their jobs properly, and in many cases they do not even have the capacity,” he said.
He warned that unsafe installation of cylinders and improper refilling practices can lead to violent explosions, posing risks not only to vehicle owners but also to the wider public.
Officials say the number of authorised vehicle gas conversion centres in Bangladesh has fallen sharply in recent years, while illegal workshops continue to operate openly in many areas.
Md Monowarul Islam, CNG Permission and Monitoring (P&M) Manager at Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL), told TIMES that although 180 conversion centres were initially approved across the country, 121 of them have been shut down for failing to remain operational.
He said only 59 authorised centres are currently permitted to carry out conversions.
“Any conversion centre operating outside these approved facilities is illegal,” he said.
According to him, shutting down such unauthorised workshops and taking legal action against those involved falls under the responsibility of the Department of Explosives and the police.
However, officials at the Department of Explosives dispute that claim.
Inspector Md Tofazzal Hossain from the department said RPGCL is responsible for approving CNG conversion centres and monitoring their activities.
“If conversions are carried out outside authorised facilities, RPGCL should oversee the matter. It does not fall within the responsibilities of the Department of Explosives,” he said.
Market investigations suggest that the shortage of 90-litre CNG cylinders has also contributed to irregular practices in the sector.
In several parts of Dhaka – including Dilu Road, Segunbagicha, Moghbazar, Banglamotor, Mirpur Mazar Road and Sector 9 in Uttara – workshops were found openly selling and installing cylinders obtained through unofficial channels.
Demand is currently high for cylinders with expiry dates between 2035 and 2037, but mechanics say older cylinders are frequently refurbished and reinstalled in vehicles.
Mechanics at these workshops said old cylinders are often cleaned and refurbished before being resold. In some cases, expiry dates stamped on the cylinders are reportedly altered to extend their usable life.
Industry representatives say the situation has created significant safety concerns.
Monoranjan Bhakta, president of the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station Association, said the current state of CNG and LPG conversion in the country is “very worrying.”
He referred to a recent explosion at a filling station in Kolatoli in Cox’s Bazar that occurred the day after the station began operations.
“The accident happened because of negligence by those who installed the equipment,” he said.
Farhan Noor, secretary of the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station Association, said vehicle conversions are being carried out freely across the country with little oversight.
He added that the shortage and rising prices of CNG cylinders are also driving unsafe practices.
“CNG cylinders are now difficult to obtain, and when they are available the prices are high,” he said.
According to Noor, some operators are installing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders in vehicles configured for CNG, which significantly increases the risk of explosions.
“Most of the recent accidents occurred because LPG cylinders were converted for CNG use,” he said.
Suppliers say the scarcity of larger cylinders has also affected the market.
Kamruzzaman Masud, sales and marketing officer at Navana CNG Limited’s Tejgaon office, said the company imports cylinders from Dubai but currently has no 90-litre units available.
“The last 90-litre cylinder package we sold, including installation, cost Tk1,38,000,” he said.
He added that installing a 60-litre cylinder typically costs Tk1,30,000 as a package, with an additional charge of about Tk11,500.
Golam Mostafa, supervisor at Southern Automobiles Limited, said a Dubai-made 60-litre CNG cylinder sells for about Tk62,000, while a 90-litre cylinder costs around Tk76,000.
During visits to workshops posing as potential customers, mechanics described a wide range of options available in the informal market.
Monir Hossain, an employee at Helal Motors, said cylinders made in Dubai, India and Korea are considered superior to those produced in Argentina or Brazil.
He said a new 130-litre cylinder with an expiry date up to 2045 costs around Tk86,000, while refurbished units with expiry dates between 2035 and 2037 are sold for about Tk64,000.
A new 100-litre cylinder valid until 2045 costs around Tk66,000, while an older unit with a 2035 expiry date sells for about Tk52,000, he added.
