It was to submit its report by January 20.

Talking to this correspondent, a member of the committee preferring anonymity on Thursday said, "We need more time to probe because the job is highly technical".

The committee members visited the site once and then held a meeting. They will visit it again, he said.

"The technical aspects have to be scanned properly as it is a different kind of investigation. Many things will depend on the report", he added.

"We are trying to complete the work at the earliest, the official said.

The committee headed by Ehsanul Fattah, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, was formed on January 10.

Other members of the committee are Petrobangla Chairman SR Osmani, Moinul Haque from its hydrocarbon unit, Sylhet Gas Fields Company Managing Director Rahman Murshed, representatives from environment ministry and Sunamganj district administration.

The January 7 blowout caused a huge damage to gas as well as natural resources in the area where Canadian company Nico was engaged for exploration.

It had engaged the Chinese Petroleum Training and Development Corporation (CPTDC) for drilling as a sub-contractor.

The committee members while visiting the site on January 14 talked to engineers, workers and employees of Niko and the Chinese company and local people who had had to leave homes following the blowout and fire.

Meanwhile, Niko started work on Wednesday for constructing a fresh drilling pad to dig a 'relief well' 150 metres from the original well where the blowout took place.

The relief well is being drilled to "seal" the main well through "directional drilling", the official added. It may take four to six 6 weeks to complete the preparatory work to start drilling, he said.

Our Moulvibazar Correspon-dent adds:The Sylhet Divisional Development Council (SDDC), a civic body, has demanded compensation for the people affected by the blowout in Tengratila gas field in Sunamganj.

In a statement on Thursday SDDC President Ragib Ali and General Secretary Oysur Rahman Chowdhury said several thousand of people of Tengratila have lost homes and crops on fields due to the blowout, that also affected the environment in the area.

Both the government and the foreign company engaged in gas exploration there have failed to discharge their duties properly after the blowout, they said.

The SDDC leaders also urged the people to remain vigilant against any "conspiracy" to deprive them.

They said the SDDC will launch agitation if proper compensation is not paid to the affected people and steps not taken to restore the environment in Tengratila.