The number of illegal gas connections in Narayanganj district could be well over 40,000 even though only 23,000 such connections have so far been spotted, according to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited officials.
They said most of the illegal connections were set up over the last two years, causing the government to lose several hundred crores in annual revenues.
Even after that, Titas Gas officials are finding it difficult to disconnect the illegal gas connections as those were set up with the backing of local officials, including ruling party lawmakers.
Sources said subscribers paid somewhere between Tk50,000 and Tk100,000 to take illegal connections and they also have to pay an additional Tk200-300 every month.
Titas Gas and mobile court officials faced obstructions while removing illegal connections in a number of areas such as Sonargaon, Rupganj and Narayanganj port. Some Titas Gas officials were even attacked in Rupganj and Sonargaon.
Selim Osman, lawmaker for Narayanganj 5, has announced to distribute LP gas cylinders among 10,000 illegal gas subscribers in his constituency after cutting off their connections.
Addressing a meeting of Titas Gas and Narayanganj district administration officials at the deputy commissioner’s conference room on Sunday, Selim said providing illegal gas connections was an evil act.
“The irony is that those who are supposed to help the government earn revenues have arranged illegal connections themselves. There is no doubt that Titas Gas officials were also involved in all these,” he said.
“Many local officials, including union parishad chairmen, are preventing Titas Gas officials from cutting off illegal gas connections. Why? Because we have union parishad and city corporation elections ahead, and many local representatives are perhaps concerned that they will lose votes if they allow the removal of illegal connections.
“But I will not think that way. I do not care if I lose votes but I cannot allow anyone to use gas illegally in my constituency,” Selim said in a firm voice.
Madanpur union parishad Chairman MA Salam, who attended the meeting, conceded that local officials had worked in collusion with Titas Gas officials to provide illegal connections.
But he opposed the move of removing illegal connections, suggesting legalisation of such connections after imposing financial penalties.
“Removing all illegal connections will certainly have an impact in the upcoming elections. Besides, people paid boatloads of money for illegal connections and they will incur losses if their connections are removed now,” said Salam.
Titas Gas Managing Director engineer Md Nowshad Islam said 13 employees of the company were dismissed after their involvement in providing illegal connections was suspected.
“We also blacklisted 35 contractors on the same charge and many cases have been filed in this connection. Besides, removing illegal connections will normalise gas pressure in the lines of legal subscribers,” he added.
Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Anisur Rahman Miah said there is no choice but to remove the illegal connections as the Prime Minister’s Office had intervened in the matter a few days ago.