Petrobangla and its subordinate body, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, have strongly refuted recent claims circulating in the media and social platforms about new gas connections and increased gas supply to residential households, labeling the news as “baseless and a rumor.” In separate press releases, they clarified that, as per government policy, new gas connections and increases in sanctioned gas load for residential use remain suspended. The news published in some media outlets or on social media about new gas connections or load increases for households is completely false and unfounded, they said. Read: Govt to float open tender to drill 26 wells in gas fields soon: Energy Adviser Both Petrobangla and Titas Gas also warned the public to stay vigilant, noting that fraudsters are misleading citizens with false claims. They advised the public not to fall victim to such misinformation. The organizations emphasized that the official stance on residential gas connections has not changed and urged people to verify any information from credible sources before taking any action. Read more: Negligence in gas exploration creates current energy crisis: Speakers

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited has started a drive to disconnect gas lines of about 20,000 customers in the Dhaka metropolitan area – to realise Tk 400 crore bills that are due. “We started the drive since September this year. From today (November 14, 2022), the drive will be conducted mainly in Gulshan, Banani, Tejgaon, Nakhalpara, Tejkunipara and Badda areas under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC),” Rashidul Alam, general manager (revenue) of Titas Gas, told UNB. Thirty Titas Gas teams are now engaged in the drive against default consumers, he added. He informed that Titas has a total of 600,000 consumers under six zones in Dhaka metropolitan city. The zones are: Kuril, Motijheel-1, Motijheel-2, Tikatuli, Sobhanbagh and Mirpur. Read more: Titas disconnects gas connection of BNP leader Gayeshwar About 20,000 consumers have failed to pay the bills in time – with each zone having 3,000-3,500 defaulting consumers. “Most of these are household gas connections,” said Rashidul Hasan, adding that if the defaulting consumers pay their arrear bills within a specific date, Titas will restore their connections.  Titas officials said they have been issuing notices to the defaulting consumers for a long time to pay their respective outstanding bills. But many consumers are still not heeding to the notices. Titas Gas has a total of 2.8 million consumers across its command areas – mainly in greater Dhaka and Mymensingh, according to officials. Read more: Titas disconnects 8,000 more illegal gas lines in N'ganj Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Narsingdi, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Mymensingh, Tangail, Sherpur, Jamalpur are in the Titas areas. Officials of Titas said that there are a huge number of illegal gas connections in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Munshiganj areas. “These illegal gas connections could be over 300,000 in Titas areas, although the exact number could not be confirmed,” said another Titas Gas official.  Read more: Titas asked to conduct study on gas bill discrepancies

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday questioned another five officials of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company over charges of illegal accumulation of wealth through corruption. ACC secretary Anwar Hossain Hawlader told reporters that they were being questioned on various corruption charges, including illegal acquisition of assets. Deputy Director and investigation officer of the Commission Nurul Huda interrogated them at the ACC head office from 10.30am to 5 pm. READ: Those aged 12-17 to be vaccinated after WHO’s approval: Minister The five officials grilled on Monday are Deputy Managers of Savar area Anisuzzman and Abdul Mannan, Manager of Private Branch of Establishment Division Hasibur Rahman, Compnay Secretary of Corporate Division Mahmudur Rob and Manager of Corotion Control Division Abu Bakkar Siddqur Rahman A total of 30 officials and employees of Titas Gas officials of Titas gas recorded their statements on August 23 in first phases. READ: ACC goes slow on NID scam case raising questions over its anti-graft drive The ACC informed that the rest of the employees will be quizzed from September 6 to September 8.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday questioned another three officials of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company over charges of acquisition of assets through corruption and irregularities. ACC secretary Anwar Hossain Hawlader told reporters that they were being questioned on various corruption charges, including illegal acquisition of assets. Deputy director and investigation officer of the Commission Nurul Huda interrogated them at the ACC head office on Sunday from 10.30am to 2 pm. Read: ACC sues wife of an ex engineer of roads and highways department A total of 30 officials and employees of Titas Gas are on the scanner of the ACC while it interrogated ten officials of Titas gas and recorded their statements on August 23 in first phases. ACC informed that the rest of the employees will be quizzed from September 6 to September 8. Five people were summoned for questioning on Sunday but three came while the other two have applied for the next slot seeking more time. Those questioned were senior sales assistant at Titas Gas Fayez Ahmed Liton, senior supervisor Harun Aur Rashid and senior supervisor and vice-president of  CBA Zakir Hossain. Read: Evaly is under ACC probe for alleged misappropriation The company's assistant officer Delwar Hossain and CBA general secretary Farooq Ahmed skipped the ACC call. The officials being quizzed are – Manager (Planning and Development) of Titas Abdul Wahab, Manager (General Services Division) Moinul Islam, CBA President of Titas and Weilder (retired) Kojimuddin, CBA General Secretary and Assistant Sales Manager Syed Waezuddin Ahmed, Senior Office Assistant Zakir Hossain, Devoloper of Narayanganj SDO of Titas Yusuf Ali Miazi, senior developer Khandakar Yusuf Ali, office clerk of ESS, Savar, Golam Mawla Sardar, office assistant of DGM office Jakir Hossain, and Senior Sales Assistant Saidur Rahman.

There will be no gas supply in several areas of Dhaka city for up to six hours on Thursday, as the gas distribution company is taking up pipeline relocation work. In a statement, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company said that supply will remain suspended from 10am to 4pm on Thursday (May 27) at Tejkunipara, Tejgaon Girls' School, Kawran Bazar, Khirstan Para, Sonargaon Hotel and Kathalbagan.  Read:5 injured in Sonargaon factory gas leak fire Other areas to be affected by the supply disruption are Dilu Road, Paribagh, eastern side of Sonargaon Road and western side of Kataban. According to Titas, supply will be cut off to facilitate relocation of a gas pipeline from Tejgaon Rail Crossing to Sonargaon Hotel. Adjacent areas of the affected locations may also experience low pressure in supply for the same reason, it said. "Pipeline relocation is part of a route alignment of utilities under the Dhaka Elevated Expressway Project," the company added.  

Gas supply will remain suspended for eight hours from 10am on Tuesday at different areas of Dhaka city due to gas pipeline repair works. According to a press release of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd, the areas where gas supply will remain suspended are -- Fatullah Post Office Goli, Prime Textile, Delpara, Bhuigar and its adjoining areas. During the time, gas supply to all household consumers, industries, commercial ventures, and CNG refueling stations will remain suspended, said Titas Gas. Also read: Some city areas to see disruption in gas supply Friday

Gas supply will remain shut in Gulshan-1, Gulshan -2, Banani, Natun Bazar, Baridhara and their adjoining areas for three hours from 2 pm to 5 pm on Friday.

The Appellate Division has stayed the High Court’s order to pay TK 5 lakh to the families of each of the Narayanganj Mosque blast victims.