The Katiadi upazila administration demolished a limestone factory allegedly built around an attempt to obtain an illegal gas connection from a high-pressure Titas Gas transmission pipeline in Kishoreganj. The operation took place Monday afternoon in Kazirchar village of Masua union, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Laboni Akter Tarana. Officials demolished three kilns and seized a large quantity of limestone from the facility, which had not yet begun operations.

The pipeline runs beneath the Arial Kha riverbed, and gas was still escaping from the leakage point during an on-site visit. Residents initially saw small bubbles in the water but became alarmed as the bubbles increased. Titas began an investigation after local complaints and found evidence of an attempted illegal connection. Its preliminary assessment is that the leak occurred while gas was being stolen from the pipeline for the factory. Union chairman Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique said no trade licence had been issued for the factory.

Titas engineers are repairing the leak. The seized limestone and bricks from the kilns were placed in the custody of the union parishad chairman. Officials said preliminary information indicates involvement by several local people, while the landowner allowed the land to be used without legal approval or licence. Legal action is being prepared, and Titas is preparing a case.