Half a dozen chairman and managing directors (MDs) of state-run power and energy companies, who have been appointed on contract, are likely to lose jobs due to their alleged involvement in backing 'unethical' practices of the immediate past government.
A decision has already been taken recently to remove them from the companies under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR), a senior official at the MoPEMR told the FE Tuesday, preferring anonymity.
An official announcement in this regard is set to come soon.
Sources said that most of these MDs are currently serving following extensions of their contractual appointments twice.
They are allegedly involved with awarding power and energy contracts to different 'previously selected' companies under the Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provision) Act 2010 bypassing tender, said the sources.
These MDs might be removed in accordance with a recent decision of the advisory council of the interim government to terminate all 'controversial' contractual appointments, they added.
Among the top brasses, chairman of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Md Mahbubur Rahman has been serving at the helm of the entity following extension of the contractual appointment twice.
The state-run BPDB incurred a record amount of losses during his tenure, said sources, adding that the financial losses of the BPDB exceeded Tk 61.18 billion last fiscal year despite hikes in power tariffs several times, said sources.
Managing director of Eastern Refinery Ltd (ERL) Md Lokman has also been serving at the helm of the entity despite protests from the ERL employees against his misdeeds, they added.
The plan to build a new crude oil refinery having ownership of the ERL was shelved during his tenure, said sources.
Allegations of providing piped natural gas connections to industries through 'unfair means' are rife against Md Haronur Rashid Mullah, MD of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd (TGTDCL).
The TGTDCL top brass is holding his chair following two consecutive extensions on contractual appointments.
Managing Director of Sylhet Gas Fields Ltd (SGFL) Md Mijanur Rahman, who got extension of contractual appointments twice, allegedly had engaged a foreign company in well-drilling jobs prior to official awarding, said sources.
Allegations are also there against him to clear payments in favour of foreign oil and gas companies despite not carrying out contractual jobs properly.
Managing Director of Jamuna Oil Company Ltd Md Gias Uddin Ansary has been serving the entity on a contractual job.
Managing Director of state-run Padma Oil Company Ltd Md Masudur Rahman, who was also on contractual appointment, already resigned from his position after taking office by the interim government.
The MoPEMR has already removed 26 directorships of former bureaucrats, leaders of Awami League and Bangladesh Chhatra League from the board of directors of different state-run companies under the energy and mineral resources division.
Directorships of a couple of dozen more of the power entities under the Power Division are set to be cancelled soon under the similar ground, said sources.
Azizjst@yahoo.com