Seven markets adjacent to the New Market have been reeling under brownouts for the last 10 days after two transformers of the power distribution substation exploded. But the authorities did not make any move until yesterday to put the system back on the line.

The shop owners alleged that the officials of Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority (DESA) instead of restoring electricity are asking for a bribe of Tk 20 lakh from them.

"Our business has plummeted, not to mention how unbearable it became for us to run shops," said fishmonger Joynal, now selling fish by candlelight.

"Buyers can't even see fish. How can I sell them?" he quipped, when asked how he was managing his business in the dark.

Because of its structure, the kitchen market is worst hit by the power outage that made the building creepy dark, hot and humid.

Shopkeepers of the much-open New Market have been using handfans and most of the big shops using generators to cope with the outage. "But how long can you keep the generators going?" asked a jeweller.

The DESA officials denied the allegation of asking for money from the power users. An official of the DESA's Kataban Control Room said, "The DESA officials never asked for money. They are always under pressure from people. The situation turned dangerous for the DESA staff, as the power users got angry at the long-time outage."

Another DESA official said the problem stemmed from huge outstanding bills of the consumers in the market area.

The shop owners and shopkeepers have threatened a bigger movement in case the DESA does not restore power immediately.