The consumer rights organization Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has formed a citizen's committee to settle the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) dispute. This committee of five members has been convened by the president of the organization Professor M Shamsul Alam. Other members of the committee are – Prof. Badrul Imam, Prof. MM Akash, Prof. Sharmind Neelomi, Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua. Within 10 working days, the committee will identify the reasons and publish specific recommendations for dispute settlement.
Cab informed this information in a press release on Saturday (October 19).
According to the notification, the power system is at risk due to the ongoing dispute between BREB and Palli Vidyut Samiti (POBIS). The agitating officers and employees of Palli Vidyut Samiti on Thursday (October 17) stopped the supply to 60 out of 80 Palli Vidyut Samiti. In this, rural electricity consumers are suffering. There is a public fear that at any time a large number of electricity consumers of the country may be subjected to an even more extreme crisis. In view of this, CAB has formed a citizen committee to resolve the dispute. The committee will submit the report within 10 working days. Identify the cause and express specific recommendations for dispute resolution.
Meanwhile, even after the withdrawal of the movement, the family members of the victims will hold a press conference regarding the arrest and remand of the sacked officers of Palli Vidyut Samiti. This press conference will be held on behalf of the 'anti-discrimination' officers and employees of 80 Palli Vidyut Samiti across the country on Saturday afternoon at Dhaka Reporters Unity.
In a press release on Friday (October 18), they said that even after the cancellation of the program, it has become difficult for officers or employees who are afraid of dismissal and lawsuits to stay at the station.
They said, why low-quality electrical goods through unlimited corruption, making it impossible to provide uninterrupted electricity to the consumer end due to construction of fragile distribution system and infrastructure and handing it over to the societies, exploiting the societies through massive financial irregularities, harassing the officers and employees of the societies, responsible for the failure of REB. Due to various activities including pressure on the associations, the movement started in the associations from last January. A number of programs have already been carried out by keeping the customer service running. But on October 17, REB fired 20 officers of the association without any reason and filed a case against 10 people despite no programme. When the officials and employees were angry, the electricity supply was stopped in various places.
They also said that the Rural Power Discrimination Movement announced a 'complete shutdown' program with a 24-hour ultimatum to stop such activities of REB, withdraw false cases, cancel the order of dismissal. Later, the program was called off with the assurance of meeting the demands of Mahfuz Alam, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser to the Interim Government and calling for talks. But after the withdrawal of the programme, four more people were sacked in the night and many were arrested for carrying out dharpakars in various Palli Vidyut Samiti.
