“Tracking measures by the licensing authorities will reduce  accidents while using liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinders,” he said at a  meeting through videoconference from his residence with top officials of different departments under his ministry.

The instruction from the junior minister came against the backdrop of different incidents of gas cylinder explosion.

The virtual meeting was convened to review the progress of projects under annual development programme (ADP) up to May 2020.    

It was informed in the meeting that 56.80 percent achievement was made in implementation of 32 projects under the ADP as equipment of Tk 400 crore could not be imported because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The progress is expected to reach 85 percent by June 30, it was noted.   

The State Minister asked the officials to promptly move for automation and digitisation in the management of energy sector.

He also underscored the need for taking up a masterplan to modernise gas sector management.

The companies in the gas sector should be run under Companies Act while efficient and professional persons should be put in the board of directors of the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration & Production Company (Bapex) as part of a plan to strengthen it, he said.

The virtual meeting was attended by senior secretary to the energy division Anisur Rahman, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation chairman Md Shamsur Rahman, and Petrobangla chairman ABM Abdul Fattah.