During a meeting with Petrobangla functionaries in the city yesterday, Tullow's representatives expressed resentment on the deal terming it a breach of trust and sought government intervention in the matter.

It has also sent a letter to Petrobangla on Tullow's position on the transfer saying the firm does not endorse such a deal and had no prior knowledge about it.

Earlier on September 16, Chevron and Texaco informed Petrobangla about the deal that transfers their 60 per cent share in Block 9 to Niko.

The remaining 10 per cent share belongs to Bapex, the government agency responsible for gas field exploration and development.

Industry sources said the share transfer deal was made secretively and the companies implemented the transfer in the stock market to Nico on September 15, the day before they announced the deal.

Talking to the BSS, a Petrobangla functionary yesterday confirmed the development but avoided commenting on it. He said the agency in charge of looking after the production sharing contracts (PSCs) on gas blocks with international oil companies (IOCs) is now reviewing the legality of the transfer.

"We will see whether the deal was made legally and what our role should be in the matter," he said. "We will not only examine this deal, but the entire legal aspect of the PSCs vis-a-vis such transfers," he added.