Govt Orders 48-Hour Suspension of All Oil and Gas Drilling
In a dramatic development amid ongoing aftershocks, interim government's Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan has ordered a 48-hour suspension of all drilling activities at oil and gas wells across the country, following an urgent call from geologist Mostofa Kamal Palash.
Palash, a prominent seismic expert, highlighted the instability of the elevated landmass above Narsingdi – the epicentre of Friday's 5.7-magnitude quake that killed 10 and injured hundreds. In a widely shared Facebook post, he warned: "Four quakes in two days prove the landmass over Narsingdi is highly unstable. Even minor tremors could destabilise it further."
Palash urged immediate action:
- Suspend all BPC-operated drilling in Sylhet, Mymensingh and Chattogram divisions for 48–72 hours.
- Ban all drilling in Narsingdi district entirely for the same period.
Khan responded swiftly, confirming the order in a comment on Palash's post: "Drilling suspended for 48 hours as a precaution." The directive covers all exploratory and production sites to mitigate risks from the active Madhupur Fault.
Palash's Warning: A Crisis Moment
"Any vibration now could trigger worse," Palash wrote, thanking netizens for amplifying his message to reach the adviser quickly. "In this crisis, every precaution will reduce quake risks."
The suspension comes after Saturday's 3.3-magnitude tremor in Narsingdi's Palash and evening shocks in Dhaka (3.7 and 4.3 magnitudes). Experts like BUET's Prof Mehedi Ahmed Ansary called it a "rare twin sequence," with more aftershocks possible.
BPC officials confirmed compliance, noting no immediate safety threats but praising the proactive step. The 48-hour halt allows seismic monitoring and fault assessments.
Palash, whose post went viral with thousands of shares, emphasised: "This is about saving lives – thank you for making it happen so fast." As Bangladesh grapples with the fallout, such citizen-expert-government synergy offers a glimmer of hope in the tremors.
