BSTI to set 17 safety standards for domestic gas cooking
The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), the national standards-setting and regulatory body, is set to develop 17 safety standards aimed at preventing accidents related to household gas cooking.
BSTI Director General (Grade-1) S M Ferdous Alam shared this announcement during a day-long workshop titled “Safety Standards for Domestic Gas Cooking Appliances” held at Hotel Sonargaon, Dhaka, on Tuesday.
The event was jointly organised by BSTI, Petrobangla, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Special guests included Hoe Yun Jeong, Country Director of ADB, and Abdul Mannan Patwary, Director (Planning) of Petrobangla. Md. Saidul Islam, BSTI’s Director (Management), delivered the welcome speech.
Citing recent tragedies, including the death of a young couple in Mirpur last year due to a gas leak, BSTI Director General S M Ferdous Alam emphasized the urgent need for awareness and safer gas cooking appliances. He noted that many accidents occur due to a lack of knowledge about using safe equipment.
“Though it is late, BSTI is now taking a proactive approach to formulate safety standards aligned with international norms. These standards have already been approved by BSTI's technical committee and are awaiting final approval by the divisional committee. Once implemented, these standards will help prevent such tragic incidents,” he stated.
The workshop featured a keynote presentation by BSTI Deputy Director (Engineering) Md Mursalin Mahfuz during the technical session were Dr Masroor-Ur-Rahman, Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Abdur Rahim, Senior Assistant Director of Walton Hi-Tech Industries, and Engineer Liaquat Ali, Managing Director of JMI LPG also spoke.
Experts from various government and private organizations also contributed insights into the necessity of robust safety measures for gas cooking appliances.
BSTI’s initiative aims to set mandatory safety standards that align with international benchmarks. Once approved and enforced, these standards are expected to significantly reduce accidents caused by gas leaks and unsafe cooking practices in households across Bangladesh.