A powerful corrupt and influential clique has been instrumental in transfers and postings at the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd.

This lobby has already intimidated the Titas authorities into transferring officials of its choice last month. This group enjoys the blessings of a Petrobangla high-up who previously held a top position in Titas.

Petrobangla, the holding company of Titas, transferred 15 officials of the transmission company last month, while Titas authorities also did the same to eight others.

Sources said this group also enjoys the support of the ruling BNP-backed trade unions. State Minister for Energy Mosharraf Hossain also sides with this clique, Titas insiders said. Sources said a number of honest officials have recently been transferred from Titas to make room for dishonest officials in some vital posts.

In a very recent case, an official with corrupt reputation has been posted to Narayanganj for the fourth time. There are several departmental corruption charges against this official. Narayanganj is a lucrative zone for corrupt officials as a large number of industrial units there tamper with meters in connivance with some Titas men.

Another official with questionable reputation has been re-posted to the planning department of Titas.

A 'corrupt' official is not handing over his responsibilities to his replacement and is resisting the latter from joining the post.

On the other hand, an official posted to Titas at Petrobangla's recommendation is facing strong

resistance from this corrupt circle. Sources said trade union leaders are being used to harass this man.

Meanwhile, discontent is running high at the Petrobangla and Titas as the energy ministry has assigned the director of planning of Petrobangla to oversee the Titas affairs contrary to the organisation's tradition. Previously, the director of administration of Petrobangla used to carry out this responsibility.

The planning director has also been given the responsibility to look after two other Petrobangla companies -- Gas Transmission Companies Ltd (GTCL) and Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL).

This has created resentment among Petrobangla employees and officials as the planning director is also junior to most of the other directors.