But as the height of the flame reduced the emission of black smoke increased, polluting the entire environment, with hot sand, dust and ashes carried by the blowout turning the once green villages into grey. A dense black cloud hung low in the sky.

"The fire situation remains unchanged, because the flame rises and drops time to time," remarked Doara Bazar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohibuzzaman.

Despite the raging fire in the relief well, Niko continues with its gas field operations. It asked Dipon Gas, a local contractor, to keep working for setting up a distribution plant at Paribagh in Chhatak some 10 kilometres off Tengratila, Dipon Gas officials told The Daily Star.

A 16km pipeline was also being laid to bring gas from Tengratila to the plant. Niko officials told Dipon Gas staff they will not suspend exploration, because, according to their assessment, the 20-square-km area has a huge gas reserve.

Niko is also developing a new field at Barabond, around 8km from Tengratila, digging a well there and constructing a link road from Tengratila to Barabond.

Some locals in Chhatak yesterday spoke in favour of gas exploration, even after the twin explosions at Tengratila. "We are not afraid. We know such fire can happen in any gas field," said Mizanur Rahman a local businessman. The area will not develop without gas exploration, he said.

A large number of people including women and children were coming every day from even far-flung areas to watch the inferno.

AGITATION OVER COMPENSATION
Around 250 villagers under the banner of Tengratila Dabi Aday Sangram Parishad (Tengratila association to realise compensation) yesterday besieged the Doara Bazar UNO office, demanding resumption of application form distribution for compensation for the gas blowout damage.

The government on Sunday stopped distribution of the forms and on Monday handed out the compensation money for the damages caused by the first blowout in January.

But the locals alleged many genuine victims of the fire were excluded while many fake ones included in the list of compensation recipients. The villagers demanded compensation for the deprived ones and demonstrated on the UNO office complex and formed a human chain to drive their demands home.

In a press conference yesterday afternoon at Tengratila, the Songram Parishad leaders alleged irregularities in distribution of compensation money and demanded removal of the UNO and dismissal of the committee that had drawn up the list.

UNO Mohihuzzaman said the deputy commissioner of Sunamganj would come on Wednesday and re-assess the damages to the locals, adding the form distribution would not resume before that.

He said all the compensation money had been distributed on Monday, except that for 15 to 20, who did not turn up.

DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST NIKO
At least three organisations including the main opposition Awami League staged demonstrations in Sylhet yesterday.

The Syllhet district and city units of Awami League (AL) jointly organised a one-hour human chain from 5:15pm at Court Point in the city, protesting at the irresponsible operation of Niko and demanding proper compensation to the victims of the January 7 blowout.

A brief rally followed the human chain, addressed by Sylhet City Corporation Mayor and City AL President Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran, Sylhet District AL President ANM Shafique and General Secretary Iftekhar Hossain Shamim, and city AL General Secretary Misbah Uddin Siraj.

The speakers demanded a proper inquiry and tough measures to realise compensation for the gas destroyed and the blowout victims at the earliest.

At a press conference at Sylhet Press Club in the afternoon, leaders of the Sylhet-based Chhatak Samity and Dakshin Chhatak Unnayan Parishad demanded immediate scrapping of the contract with Niko.

They said it has been proven that the company did not maintain the minimum safety measures.

The two citizens' forums announced a four-point demand and a five-day agitation programme from today ending at a human chain on July 10 at the Central Shahid Minar in the city, from where a fresh agitation programme will be announced.

The demands include immediate publication of a white paper on gas extraction from the gas fields in Chhatak, scrapping of the contract with Niko and halting all of its activities in the country, and assessment of losses at Tengratila and realisation of compensation for those from the company.