Sylhet Gas Fields Limited, a state-owned company under Petrobangla and the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, has come under scrutiny over allegations of widespread irregularities in the payment of overtime to its employees. A review of the company’s salary and allowance records for May shows that Tk 36,51,705 was spent on salaries and allowances for officers and employees, while Tk 35,96,266 was spent on overtime during the same month. In other words, the company spent almost as much on overtime as it did on regular salaries.

According to the salary sheet, some employees were shown as working 150 to 215 hours of overtime in a single month. In several cases, they received an additional Tk 35,000 to Tk 50,000 in overtime payments—amounts that were one and a half to twice their basic salaries.

For example, Fayzul Karim, a foreman working at the Haripur Field, has a basic salary of Tk 26,100. In May, he was paid Tk 53,957 for 215 hours of overtime, bringing his total salary and allowances to Tk 98,202.

Sadek Ali, who works at the Rashidpur CRU Plant, has a basic salary of Tk 25,320. He received Tk 42,850 for 176 hours of overtime and Tk 87,926 in total salary and allowances.

Lokman Uddin of the Kailashtila Field has a basic salary of Tk 20,390. He was paid Tk 41,565 for 212 hours of overtime, taking his total earnings to Tk 77,795.

Nur Uddin, an employee at the company’s head office, has a basic salary of Tk 28,790. He received Tk 41,525 for 150 hours of overtime and a total of Tk 89,440.

Similarly, Md. Abdul Wadud, an employee at the Rashidpur Gas Field, has a basic salary of Tk 26,000. He received Tk 41,250 for 165 hours of overtime, taking his total salary and allowances to Tk 85,855.

Overtime Payments Exceeding Salaries

According to people familiar with the matter, excessive overtime payments have resulted in some employees earning more than officers in several grades. They allege that this is also affecting administrative discipline within the organisation.

According to the May salary summary, Deputy Manager (Grade 6) Emranul Haque Chowdhury received a total of Tk 59,188, while Assistant Manager (Grade 9) Md. Ansarul Alam received Tk 40,030. In contrast, some employees received substantially higher amounts because of overtime payments.

There are also allegations that effective daily records of overtime are not properly maintained. On December 19, 2024, a special team from the Sylhet office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) conducted an operation at Sylhet Gas Fields and reportedly found evidence of irregularities involving overtime beyond regular working hours.

Following the ACC operation, the company took steps to maintain an overtime register. However, employees familiar with the process allege that the register is not being properly maintained. They claim that overtime records are often submitted collectively at the end of the month, after which payments are made.

According to the alleged procedure, overtime should be approved in advance and the actual hours worked should be certified at the end of each working day.

Allegations of Collusion

There are further allegations that some officials are indirectly involved in the irregularities. According to the allegations, certain officials approve excessive or fictitious overtime in the names of subordinate employees, enabling them to withdraw an additional Tk 40,000 to Tk 50,000 with their salaries. Some officials allegedly receive a portion of the additional money in return.

However, these allegations require independent investigation and verification.

Company documents and accounts from people familiar with the organisation indicate that there has been no significant recruitment of regular employees at the staff level through public advertisement since 1996. As a result, the company has been facing a shortage of manpower for years.

The company also reportedly has around 300 casual workers employed on a temporary basis. Questions have been raised about the process through which some of these workers were recruited.

Recruitment and Attendance System

In 2020, the company reportedly attempted to introduce a fingerprint-based attendance system as part of an effort to prevent overtime-related irregularities. The initiative was allegedly obstructed.

A new fingerprint-based attendance system is currently being developed, but there are allegations that employees will not be included in the system. According to people familiar with the matter, pressure was allegedly exerted by the employees’ union against bringing workers under the fingerprint attendance system.

There are also allegations that the company has failed to address the issue of overtime despite repeated audit objections. Although the organisation has service rules and various internal policies, employees allege that there is no clear and comprehensive policy governing overtime payments.

Disparity in Overtime Allocation

Employees also allege that internal rivalry between two labour unions has contributed to disparities in overtime allocation.

According to some employees, members of the influential union receive 100 to 200 hours of overtime, while employees perceived to be affiliated with the rival group may receive only 30 to 40 hours or, in some cases, no overtime at all.

The allegations, however, have been denied by CBA President Pradip Kumar Sharma.

“There is no irregularity. We have a shortage of staff, which is why overtime is high. If recruitment were possible, there would not be so much overtime,” he said.

Management’s Response

When contacted, Sylhet Gas Fields General Manager (Administration) Tarek Ahmed declined to comment on the allegations and advised contacting the company’s information officer.

Board Chairman Abul Mansur Md. Foyezullah acknowledged that the company has a manpower shortage but said the managing director would be able to provide details.

Managing Director Engineer Md. Faruk Hossain said, “We have to get the work done by the existing employees because of the shortage of manpower.”

The allegations of excessive overtime, weak attendance monitoring and irregularities in overtime approval have raised concerns about financial management and administrative discipline at the state-owned company.

Employees familiar with the situation have called for an independent investigation into overtime records, attendance, approval procedures and payments. They said that if any irregularities are established through investigation, those responsible should be held accountable under the law.