The state-owned oil gas and mineral corporation Petrobangla suspended four officials and one employee on Tuesday for their involvement in inciting an attack on its headquarters, following the appointment of new managing director at Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company.
A press release from Petrobangla named the suspended individuals as deputy general managers Md Tarikul Islam and Abdul Jalil, and managers Fazlul Haque and Mohammad Saifuddin. Office Assistant Nazrul Islam was also suspended.
All have been placed on forced leave and barred from entering their offices until further notice.
The incident occurred when a group of Titas employees and officers protested the appointment of Shahnewaz Parvez as the new MD. They stormed Petro Centre, Petrobangla鈥檚 headquarters, demanding the MD be selected from within Titas rather than an external candidate, United News of Bangladesh reported.
The protesters ransacked the reception area on the ground floor, wielding sticks, though no serious injuries were reported in the altercation with security guards.
Shahnewaz Parvez, a former general manager of Petrobangla, was appointed as MD of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company on Monday, replacing Harunur Rashid Mollah, whose contract was terminated by the government. Prior to this, Parvez served as MD of the Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL).
Petrobangla bhairman Zanedra Nath Sarker explained that the demand of the protesters was unjustified, as Titas did not have any eligible senior general managers for the MD position. As a result, after consulting with the energy and mineral resources division, Petrobangla appointed Parvez from the senior GM list at Petrobangla.
鈥業f Titas employees or officers have any concerns, they are welcome to raise them in a proper manner at my office. Attacking the office is a violation of the rules,鈥� he said.
He added that CCTV footage would be reviewed, and departmental actions, followed by potential criminal charges, would be taken against those involved.
He also suggested that supporters of the former MD Harunur Rashid, who may have benefited from his leadership, could have been involved in the protest. Additionally, Parvez鈥檚 crackdown on illegal consumers in the Keraniganj area, connected to a former state minister, might have contributed to the unrest.
Due to the protests, the new MD was unable to enter his office on Tuesday but managed to join his position at the Petrobangla office.
