United News of Bangladesh

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC continues its drive to identify and remove illegal gas connections. As part of a regular operation, a mobile court led by executive magistrate Milton Roy from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division conducted an eviction drive on Tuesday in the Jamgora and Itkhola areas of Ashulia, under the jurisdiction of the Jobio-Ashulia regional sales division of Titas Gas, Savar. During the operation, around 500 illegal residential gas burners were disconnected, and 400 meters of pipeline were removed and seized. According to Titas Gas officials, the initiative will save approximately 11,334 cubic feet/hour of gas. Through mobile court proceedings, three commercial entities — Mokka Hotel & Chandpur Restaurant, Madina Hotel, and Gaibandha Hotel — along with two illegal consumers, Abdul Wahab Mir and Humayun, were fined a total of Tk 1.25 lakh, which was collected on the spot. On the same day, another mobile court led by senior assistant commissioner and executive magistrate Nazmul Huda conducted a similar operation under the Jobio-Araihazar regional sales division of Titas Gas in areas including Kalibari Bazar, Satyabandi, and Duptara in Araihazar, Narayanganj, spanning 2.5 kilometers. The operation resulted in the disconnection of around 820 illegal residential gas burners and the seizure of 110 feet of MS pipe, one package burner, and one booster. No fines or arrests could be made in the illegal factory found during the operation, as no responsible individuals were present at the scene. Policeman among 3 detained with Yaba pills in Cox’s Bazar Additionally, under the supervision of the regional revenue branch, Narayanganj, connection disconnection operations were carried out by five special teams in Hossain Nagar, Kashipur, and Fatulla areas of Narayanganj. Due to unpaid gas bills, gas connections were disconnected in three households with six double burners. For using gas in unauthorized extensions, 10 residential connections with a total of 99 double burners were disconnected. Furthermore, due to complete illegal usage without customer signal IDs, 10 illegal gas connections were disconnected, which included 33 double burners.  Titas Gas officials said that from September 2024 to April 15, 2025, a total of 29,617 illegal gas connections have been disconnected, including 230 industrial, 155 commercial, and 29,232 residential connections. Additionally, 67,212 burners have been disconnected, and 144 kilometers of gas pipeline have been removed during this period.

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC will begin installing smart prepaid gas metres in 2026, having already appointed one project management consultant (PMC) while the selection of a second is in progress. “We’re hopeful that we can start the implementation of the smart prepaid metre project by the second half of 2026,” said Shahnewaj Parvez, Managing Director of Titas Gas, the largest state-owned gas distribution entity with a 55% market share and 2.878 million consumers. 3-member probe's report on back-to-back Sundarban fires reaches DFO's desk Another PMC will be appointed soon, as the selection process is underway for the ADB-financed project. Meanwhile, Development & Technical Consultant Limited (DTCL), a local firm, has been awarded the consultancy contract under the WB-financed project. Titas Gas has so far installed 420,000 prepaid metres in its command areas, primarily covering Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Narsingdi, since launching the initiative more than a decade ago. These prepaid metres were installed with financial support from the Japanese donor agency JICA. “This time, however, the new project will be financed by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, and all metres will be smart prepaid ones. The previous ones were only prepaid, not smart prepaid,” said the Titas Gas MD. He explained the distinction between prepaid and smart prepaid meters, noting that while users of prepaid meters must visit vendor points to recharge, smart prepaid metres allow users to recharge from any location using a smartphone. “This is the biggest advantage of the smart prepaid meter,” he added. Under the new project, 1.75 million smart prepaid metres will be installed in Titas-controlled areas. The ADB will finance 650,000 metres, while the WB will fund the remaining 1.1 million metres.Officials said two separate agreements were signed with the World Bank and the ADB about 18 months ago for the installation of the 1.75 million smart prepaid metres. Explaining the significance of the PMC, the Titas Gas MD emphasised its critical role in project implementation, including planning, designing and overseeing technical aspects.“The main technical aspects remain in the hands of the PMC. Normally, one or two companies are appointed as PMC,” he told UNB. The PMC is also responsible for monitoring and supervising the tendering process and implementation works. Due to fraud practices in the tendering process, one selection was canceled, and a re-tendering process was initiated to appoint the second consultant, he noted. Official sources confirmed that in November 2023, Titas Gas signed two loan agreements for the installation of 1.75 million smart prepaid meters under two projects. Bringing 10 million expatriate voters under balloting system a big challenge On November 23, 2023, Titas signed a loan agreement with the World Bank for the installation of 1.1 million smart prepaid meters under the Gas Sector Efficiency and Carbon Abatement Project. On November 28, 2023, the company signed another agreement with the ADB for the installation of 650,000 smart prepaid meters under the Smart Metering Energy Efficiency Improvement Project. The government initiated the smart prepaid meter project for Titas Gas to reduce excessive system losses to a reasonable level. As the oldest and largest gas distribution company in terms of operational area and sales volume, Titas Gas has been struggling with a 7% system loss. Company officials estimate that Titas incurs losses of Tk 150-180 crore per month due to system loss. If checked, the company could save Tk 1,800-2,160 crore annually. Titas Gas has already installed about 350,000 prepaid gas meters for household consumers in Dhaka with financial support from JICA. These meters are primarily in Gulshan, Banani, Mohammadpur, Paltan, Ramna, New Market, Khilgaon and Segunbagicha. Under the new project, WB-financed smart prepaid metres will be installed in Dhaka South and Narayanganj, while ADB-financed metres will be installed in Dhaka North and Gazipur. Titas Gas currently serves over 2.878 million consumers, including 2.853 million households, 12,078 commercial consumers, 5,429 industrial consumers, 1,755 captive power plants, and 396 CNG stations. According to official statistics, Titas Gas holds 55% of the gas market share, while the other five gas distribution companies account for 45%. Its vast operational area covers Dhaka, Manikganj, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Narsingdi and Mymensingh. Over 1.67 lakh tube-wells dry up in Feni amid acute fresh water crisis Titas annually sells approximately 14,459.41 million cubic metres (MMCM) of gas (2021-23 fiscal years), generating a revenue of Tk 26,387.12 crore.

Consumers in vast areas around the capital may experience low gas pressure for 24 hours, from Tuesday to Wednesday. According to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC, due to urgent tie-in work at GTCL's off-transmission point, low gas pressure may prevail in the Titas Gas-affiliated areas of Joydevpur, Tongi, Chandra, Konabari, Ashulia, Savar, Dhamrai, Manikganj, and adjacent areas. This will occur for a total of 24 hours, from 8 am on Tuesday (April 1) to 8 am on Wednesday (April 2). Titas Gas authorities have apologised to their customers for the temporary inconvenience.

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC continues its drive against illegal gas connections. As part of its regular operations, a mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Fazle Wahid, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, conducted a raid in the Puran Baushia and Gazaria areas under the Jobi Area-Meghnaghat zone on Tuesday. During the operation, authorities severed an illegal gas connection to a lime factory and seized approximately 20 feet of MS pipe and 150 feet of hose pipe. Officials estimated that removing the illegal connections would save around 12,000 cubic feet of gas per hour, equivalent to Tk 195,725 per day. NBR launches Spot Assessment programme to increase tax net On the same day, a special operation led by the Deputy General Manager of the Regional Vigilance Department-Narayanganj, along with vigilance units from Narayanganj-Sonargaon and Rupganj-Narsingdi, inspected five CNG stations in the Jobi Area-Narsingdi. Among them, A.H.B CNG Filling Station in South Shibmandir, Panchdona, Narsingdi, was found tampering with its captive-run meter. In line with the Gas Marketing Regulations-2014, both gas connections were immediately disconnected.

Gas supply will remain suspended for 13 hours on Thursday in different areas in the capital for pipeline relocation works to facilitate construction of MRT Line -1 (Nadda) under Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited. Gas supply suspension in various Dhaka areas Tuesday According to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC, gas supply will remain off from 10 am to 11 pm on Thursday for consumers at Grameen Phone Headquarters, North-South University, Unique Hotel, US Embassy, Ananta Energy Resources, Pickle Power, Pragati CNG station, from Sahajatpur Kuril Biswa Road to Subastu Tower. BTMA seeks stable gas supply, favourable monetary policy to secure investment The consumers in the adjacent areas may experience low pressure in gas supply, said the Titas Gas regretting the temporary inconvenience to the people during the period.

Gas supply will remain suspended for nine hours in different areas of Dhaka city on Tuesday. According to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC, the areas where gas supply will remain off from 1 pm to 10 pm include Kholamora, Atibazar, Kakatia, Hazratour, and Majherchar due to the repair of leakage at Salehpur in the distribution pipeline from Amin Bazar DRS to Hazaribagh DRS. Gas supply disruption in north Dhaka areas for 13hrs tomorrow Regretting the temporary inconvenience of the customers, Titas said consumers in the adjacent areas may experience low pressure in gas supply. Gas supply to remain off for 12 hours in Monohardi upazila, Kishoreganj

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC has disconnected the illegal gas connection at Mubtadi Washing Factory, a large washing plant located on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in Manikganj as part of ongoing drive against illegal gas connections across its command areas. According to Titas Gas, the owner of the factory Md. Shafiqul Islam, was illegally using gas by installing two unauthorised service lines – one 02" (approximately 100 feet) and one 01" (approximately 300 feet) – from the existing 10" × 50 PSIG distribution line on the west side of the Dhaka-Aricha highway. A boiler with a capacity of 500 kg and nine dryers in the factory were using gas at a load of 3,300 cubic feet per hour, all through illegal connections. Titas Gas officials capped the illegal service lines and filed a general diary (GD) with the Savar Police Station regarding the matter. Titas Gas PLC has been conducting drives to identify and sever illegal gas lines since the new managing director took charge. Titas employees, cops attacked during drive against illegal gas line As part of the ongoing campaign, Titas Gas, led by an executive magistrate, has been carrying out operations in areas including Keraniganj, Kamrangirchar, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Savar, Tongi, Gazipur, Dhanmondi, Mirpur, Gulshan, Mymensingh, Meghnaghat, and Narsingdi. Between September 2024 and January 14, 2025, a total of 19,077 illegal gas lines including 149 industrial, 94 commercial, and 18,834 residential connections were disconnected. Besides, 44,700 burners were disconnected, and 95 kilometers of pipeline were removed as part of the operation.

Several employees of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC and some policemen were injured in an attack during a drive to disconnect illegal gas lines in Sonargaon of Narayanganj on Wednesday. An organised gang attacked a Titas team while they were attempting to disconnect an illegal 2-inch diameter line adjacent to Mirertek Bazar. Mohammad Shahabuddin, Deputy General Manager of its Regional Marketing Department in Sonargaon, was seriously injured in the attack, according to Titas Gas. Titas Gas authorities disconnected a total of 16,827 illegal gas connections in the last four months since September, 2024, it said. Gas price hike for industries ‘necessary but unpleasant’: Adviser These removed illegal connections were used to supply gas to 40,916 burners of 16,596 residential users, 145 industries, and 86 commercial ventures, according to Titas Gas. The disconnection drive will save 11.113 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd), worth approximately Tk 51.65 per day. Besides, 86 km of pipeline was also removed during the drive against illegal connections in Moishtek, Mirertek, Sonargaon of Narayanganj. Fazle Wahid, Senior Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division led a mobile court to remove illegal gas connections in those areas. Gas supply likely to improve this evening in Dhaka city, elsewhere During the drive, approximately 1 km of illegal gas connections were disconnected in Moishtek area, affecting around 200 residential connections. Besides, about 100 feet of MS and 150 feet of PVC pipes were removed in the operation.

Though two separate deals were signed with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank about a year ago to install some 17.5 lakh (1.75 million) smart pre-paid metres, the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company has made little progress in implementing the project. “Only some individual consultants were appointed by Titas Gas PLC. No project management consultant (PMC) has been appointed as yet,” said a senior official of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division. Explaining the significance of the PMC he said has it critical role in implementing a project as it holds the responsibility to plan and design the project. “The main technical aspects remain in the hand of the PMC. Normally one or two foreign companies are appointed as PMC”, he told UNB. Newly appointed Managing Director of the Titas PLC Shahnewaz Parvez also admitted the poor progress of the smart prepaid metre project. He, however, said that the appointment of PMC is under process and hoped that the Titas will be able to appoint the consultant soon. Official sources said Titas Gas signed two separate loan agreements in November last year with the World Bank and ADB to install a total of 17.5 lakh prepaid meters under two projects. On November 23 in 2023, Titas signed a loan agreement with the World Bank for installation of 11 lakh smart prepaid meters under the Gas Sector Efficiency and Carbon Abatement Project. The gas transmission and distribution company also signed another agreement with the Asian Development Bank on November 28 in 2023 for the installation of 6.50 lakh smart prepaid meters under the Smart Metering Energy Efficiency Improvement Project. Read: JS body recommends taking steps to gain prepaid meter consumers’ trust The government had undertaken the smart prepaid metre project for the Titas Gas PLC, to reduce the excessive system loss to a reasonable level. As the oldest and largest gas distribution both in terms of its operational area and volume of natural gas sales among the six gas distribution companies, the Titas Gas has been reeling with 7 percent system loss. Titas Gas officials said the company has to incur a loss of Tk 150-180 crore per month for its system loss. They said the entity can save Tk1,800-2,160 crore a year if such a huge system loss is checked. Titas Gas has so far installed about 3.5 lakh of prepaid gas meters for its household consumers mainly in Dhaka city with the financial support of the Japanese donor agency JICA. Its prepaid meters were installed mainly in Gulshan, Banani, Mohammadpur, Paltan, Ramna, New Market, Khilgaon and Segunbagicha areas. Titas Gas currently supplies gas to over 2.878 million consumers, including some 2.853 million household consumers, 12,078 commercial consumers, 5,429 industrial consumers, 1,755 captive power plants, and 396 CNG stations. As per the official statistics, Titas Gas alone holds 55% of the gas market share, while the other five companies have 45%. Read more: Electricity bills harassments: Postpaid consumers can turn to prepaid meters Its vast operational area covers Dhaka, Manikganj, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Narsingdi, and Mymensingh. It annually sells about 14,459.41 MMCM (million cubic meters) of gas (2021-23 fiscal years), to earn a revenue of Tk26,387.12 crore.

With 7 percent system loss, the new management of the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company PLC has been facing the biggest challenge in its service delivery. “Some 7 percent system loss means the organisation loses Tk 150-180 crore per month in revenue,” said Shahnewaz Parvez, the new managing director of the Titas Gas PLC. “It means, the state-owned gas distribution entity can save Tk 1800-2160 crore a year if such a huge system loss is checked,” he told UNB. Among the six gas distribution companies, Titas Gas has been the oldest and largest one both in terms of its operational area and volume of natural gas sales. As per the official statistics, the Titas Gas, invented in 1964, alone holds 55 percent of the gas market share while the other five companies have 45 percent. UCB signs MOU with Titas Gas to provide banking solutions Titas Gas supplies gas to over 2.878 million consumers, including some 2.853 million household consumers, 12,078 commercial consumers, 5,429 industrial consumers, 1,755 captive power plants, and 396 CNG stations. Its vast operational area covers Dhaka, Manikganj, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Narsingdi and Mymensingh. It annually sells about 14,459.41 MMCM (million cubic meters) of gas (2021-23 fiscal year), to earn a revenue of TK 26,387.12 crore.           After the fall of the Awami League regime, the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry also brought changes in Titas management as it was one of the ‘most corrupt’ organisations where the previous managing director Harunor Rashid Mollah was appointed on a contractual basis. There have been widespread allegations that Mollah was involved in various corruption schemes who gave a huge financial benefit to former state minister Nasrul Hamid to get his contractual appointment. Titas Gas faces assaults from local lawmakers' supporters when removing illegal gas connections: Titas MD One of the major allegations against the old management was that Mollah did not take adequate actions against the illegal connections which ultimately increased the system loss of Titas Gas from 2 percent in 2021-22 to 7 percent in 2024-25 fiscal years. Upon assuming office as Managing Director, Shahnewaz Parvez, who previously served as the Managing Director of GTCL, another Petrobangla company, took action against illegal gas connections. Within one month, he said, itas Gas had disconnected over 4,000 household connections and more than 90 industrial connections, primarily in Keraniganj, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Rupganj. Official sources said Keraniganj was the parliamentary constituency of former state minister for power and energy Nasrul Hamid where the most illegal connections were found. Titas Gas officials said the mainly politically influential persons, especially the local MPs of the ruling party, were the main promoters of the illegal gas connections. As a result, on many occasions, the Titas Gas officials came under attacks from the ruling party men when they conducted operations against the illegal gas connections at different areas. Shahnewaz said Titas Gas has to lose revenue of over Tk 5 crore a day due to illegal gas connections. “So, it’s now our top priority to disconnect all illegal connections and remove the illegal gas pipelines,” he said, adding, if illegal connections are snapped it will play a good role to improve gas supply to many areas. Petrobangla, Titas dismiss news on new gas connections as “baseless rumor”