Local prospective gas consumers have alleged widespread bribery and irregularities at Bakhrabad Gas System Ltd’s Lakshmipur office.
They said nobody could get any gas line without bribery here.
“If you try through bribery, it will be easier to get a gas line. Otherwise, it will be tougher for you,” a customer, seeking anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune.
“This is not the only bad thing that might happen to you. Even your files might be sent into disappearance to pave the way for those who have bribed to get a gas line,” he said.
Another customer, seeking anonymity, said: “Those who want to get new gas lines have to pay between Tk 20,000 and 25000. Otherwise, they cannot get a gas line.”
Bakhrabad gas lines are laid in the region through contracting firms like Messrs Al Amin Traders and Messrs Alauddin Enterprise.
Messrs Al Amin Traders’ Md Mahfuzur blamed Messrs Alauddin Enterprise’s manipulation and monopoly in getting work orders from the gas office behind this bribery at the office.
Alauddin Enterprise lays gas lines even before getting its nod from the gas office and later makes them approved through the office in exchange for a hefty amount of bribery from people, he said and called it an irregularity.
Technician Abul Kalam Azad of the gas office, who works closely with Alauddin Enterprise, denied the allegation of receiving any bribe money and said: “If anybody comes to me with a request to do their work, I keep their request.
“Certainly, it should not be a crime in any way.”
Lakshmipur Bakhrabad Gas System Ltd’s Manager Altaf Hossain: “I have received some complaints about bribery at the office and am looking through them.
