The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Amid allegations of massive corruption in gas distribution, irregularities in revenue collection, harassment of customers and high-handedness of union leaders, a team of army-led special taskforce yesterday started investigation into the activities of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Limited at Titas Bhaban in the city.

The Task Force led by Lt Col Hasan also set up an office room and placed a complain box there to monitor the activities of Titas.

Witnesses said the Task Force troops, led by Lt Col Hasan and Major Kamrul, made a surprise appearance at the head office of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd in the morning. Officials, employees, contractors and outsiders looked worried at the sudden appearance of the troops, a witness said.

After going around the office, they set up a temporary office on the 2nd floor of the building to examine the allegations against Titas and ensure the smooth functioning of the state-owned company at Karwanbazar in the city. Lt Col Hasan also held a meeting with the Titas managing director and other high officials.

Titas incurs a loss amounting to Tk 120 crore every year for the so-called system loss. However, insiders said the state-owned Titas incurs huge amount of losses mainly due to massive corruption, irregularities and embezzlement of revenue earnings by the corrupt officials and employees of it.

Engineer Abdullah, Managing Director of Titas, told reporters that the Special Task Force members came to the office to monitor its function.

"The taskforce members would scrutinise service rules as well as how to improve Titas's services for its customers. They would also examine if there was any irregularity in the Titas Gas," he said.

He said the Special Task Force would be running office temporarily in the Titas Bhaban for the next one month starting from October 28.

The managing director also said some of the employees and CBA leaders of the office have been asked to submit their wealth information to the Task Force as they have got "allegations against them".

Under the ongoing drive launched by the interim regime against corruption and crime, troops of the taskforce are taking position in important public-service institutions mired in allegations of corruption.

Earlier, they made a makeshift office at RAJUK Bhaban, Nagar Bhaban of the City Corporation and the building of the National Housing Authority.

The Special Task Force members would submit their report to the Chief Adviser's office after the month-long monitoring of the gas company's activities.