Several companies under the Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) have been accused of excluding newly recruited officers from profit-sharing benefits for the 2025–26 fiscal year, triggering disputes over the interpretation of the Bangladesh Labour Act and the Bangladesh Labour Rules.
New officers of Pashchimanchal Gas Company Limited (PGCL), identifying themselves as PGCL Officers Batch 2025–26, have served a legal notice on the company, while 47 officers of Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL) have obtained a legal opinion supporting their eligibility for the benefits.
Similar concerns have emerged at Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex), Sylhet Gas Fields Limited (SGFL), Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL), Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited (BGDCL) and other Petrobangla subsidiaries.
The officers allege that they are being deprived of their shares in the Workers’ Profit Participation Fund (WPPF) despite meeting the legal requirements.
Company officials, however, differ over whether the required nine months of service must be completed within the relevant fiscal year.
At PGCL, 40 newly recruited officers who joined on November 23, 2025, and became permanent employees on May 23, 2026, allege that they were excluded from an advance profit-sharing distribution made in September.
On October 1, they sent a legal notice through Supreme Court lawyer Md Liam Rahmatullah, demanding their inclusion among the fund's beneficiaries and redistribution of the money within 15 days. The notice cited Section 241(2) of the Labour Act, 2006, and Rule 233 of the Labour Rules, 2015.
The notice was addressed to PGCL Managing Director SM Tarikul Islam, board chairman SM Waliur Rahman and trust board chairman Md Abul Hossain.
According to the officers, they completed nine months of service on August 23, before the money was transferred to the fund on September 20. However, they said the 15-day deadline passed without a resolution.
An affected officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Daily Waadaa that company authorities had initially assured them they would receive the money if they were legally entitled to it.
“Despite our eligibility under the law and rules, the authorities disregarded those provisions and distributed the advance profit-sharing money. As a result, 40 newly recruited officers have been deprived of WPPF benefits,” he said.
Another PGCL officer alleged that the authorities were resorting to secrecy and various tactics to deny the new recruits their dues.
“They are trying to deprive us by sheer force, bypassing the law. A substantial bonus at the beginning of a career can make it much easier for a new officer to put their life in order,” he added.
PGCL Trustee Board Chairman Md Abul Hossain said profit-sharing benefits were distributed in accordance with labour laws, adding that employees had to complete nine months of service within the fiscal year to qualify.
PGCL Managing Director SM Tarikul Islam said the interpretation of the nine-month requirement remained disputed and advised the affected officers to approach the trustee board.
At GTCL, 47 newly recruited officers who joined on the same date have obtained a legal opinion from Supreme Court lawyer Abdullahil Maruf Fahim. The opinion concluded that they were eligible for the 2025–26 benefits, noting that they had completed more than six months of service during the fiscal year.
GTCL has yet to distribute advance profit-sharing payments. However, officials familiar with the matter alleged that an internal decision had been made to exclude the new recruits.
At Bapex, officers reportedly received advance payments of 220,000 taka each on September 29, while newly recruited officers allege that they were excluded. At SGFL, officers reportedly received 300,000 taka each in advance payments in July, with new recruits also claiming exclusion.
Newly recruited officers at KGDCL have raised concerns over their eligibility for payments estimated at around 300,000 taka each, while those at BGDCL could receive more than 150,000 taka each. Advance payments had not yet been distributed at either company, according to information obtained by Waadaa.
KGDCL General Manager (Administration) Engineer Nahid Alam said his company had not faced any such complication, adding that employees became eligible after completing six months of service during the fiscal year and becoming permanent employees.
At Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited, newly recruited officers alleged that they had been told they would not receive benefits because they had not completed nine months of service within the fiscal year.
Meanwhile, officers at Madhyapara Granite Mining Company Limited said the company was operating at a loss this year and would not distribute profit-sharing benefits.
Petrobangla Director (Finance) KM Mizanur Rahman said the respective companies were responsible for distributing WPPF money under labour laws.
Petrobangla Director (Administration) SM Mahbub Alam said the same policy applied across the corporation's 13 companies, adding that any complaints received would be investigated and addressed in accordance with the rules.