ASHULIA, DHAKA, BANGLADESH — An investigation into the fire at Pretty Composite Textiles in Ashulia, Bangladesh, identified unsafe gas-cylinder handling and inadequate worker training, according to findings reported by The Business Standard on 10 October 2026.
The current development is the reporting of the inquiry findings, rather than a claim that the original fire occurred this week.
Reported findings focus on industrial gas controls
The newspaper said it obtained the district administration committee's report. It described concerns including unsuitable vehicles for transporting high-pressure CNG cylinders, CNG and LPG containers stored together, cylinders beyond retest dates, damaged valves and unapproved industrial installations.
According to the account, the factory lacked the required Department of Explosives storage licence. The committee also identified oversight and training shortcomings. These are findings attributed to the reported inquiry, not a court judgment.
Inspection and training recommendations
The recommendations included checking approvals before industrial CNG use, conducting coordinated inspections, training transporters and industrial operators on differences between CNG and LPG equipment, and technically examining recovered cylinders before reuse.
The newspaper said it could not reach several committee representatives for comment.
HSE Blog analysis: approvals and practical controls must work together
The occupational safety relevance is clear: the findings concern hazardous materials, equipment integrity and the competence of people transporting and handling them. A licence or training record alone cannot demonstrate that every task is safely controlled.
For general background, understanding flammable and combustible substances supports hazard identification, but gas-cylinder pressure and testing requirements need their own technical controls. Sites should identify competent oversight, equipment checks and escalation routes for defects.
Planning also needs to address what happens when prevention fails. An emergency action plan sets out responsibilities and evacuation arrangements; broader emergency response planning connects those arrangements with external assistance.
Source: The Business Standard, 10 October 2026. HSE Blog has not obtained the original committee report independently.
Source
The Business Standard, reporting district investigation findingstbsnews.net
