Both the officials are accused of pushing Petrobangla to a financial suicide last year, while promoting and protecting the interest of a foreign oil company.

Moreover, the government is filling the vacant posts of three more directors in Petrobangla by promoting three officials, superseding two seniormost ones. Both of them are freedom fighters.

The sources said the superior selection board (SSB) last week okayed promotion of three officials superceding two seniors under political pressure. "There has been gross violation of rules in the SSB and everybody is aware of that," said one source. The three officials will take charge as directors of operation, mining and planning.

The posts of director of operation and mining are lying vacant for a year and that of director of planning for five months.

Establishment ministry sources said that despite reservations expressed by the Petrobangla chairman, pressure came from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to extend contract job of the director of finance and give contractual appointment to the director of Production Sharing Contract (PSC).

The director (finance) retired last year and was on contract job till early this month. But since he is 'politically blessed', he is attending office and using all official facilities.

The director (PSC) is due to retire on June 30. Establishment ministry sources said there are seven allegations of irregularity and corruption against them. "But there is pressure from the alternative centre of power of the government to appoint these two directors on contract," noted one source.

Late last year, Petrobangla formed a committee comprising the finance and PSC directors to look into audit objections involving $300 million against Cairn for its Sangu field operation. Cairn had spent this sum without the approval of Petrobangla in violation of provisions of the contract. These objections were made in an audit review of Cairn's expenditure.

Reviewing the audit, the committee came up with a report suggesting that Petrobangla may give post-facto approval for an expenditure of $ 250 million, while okaying audit objections involving $46 million. Petrobangla then sent the report to its legal adviser for his opinion.

The legal adviser was surprised to see the recommendation and said the PSC does not give Petrobangla any scope for post-facto approval. Cairn has spent the money without approval from the Joint Review Committee, Joint Management Committee or Petrobangla, and therefore this sum is subject to audit objection. As a result, the report has now been shelved.

With an annual contribution of over Tk 2,700 crore to the national exchequer, Petrobangla is one of the top sources of funds for the government.

Petrobangla is now facing handling a number of challenges concerning two troubled mines, oil companies that tend to spend more 'recoverable' money at the slightest monitoring lapses and also holding the third round block bidding for oil and gas exploration by October this year.