4,000 without power for 3 days
Consumers refuse REB service at Haragachh in Rangpur
Our Correspondent, Rangpur
About 4000 clients in Haragachh municipality in Kounia upazila are without electricity supply for three days as the Rural Electrification Board (REB) snapped the supply line following accumulation of huge amounts of bills. About 150 small industries including some Bidi factories are closed there for three days for want of power supply. Haragachh Biddut Grahak Sangram Parishad (HBGSP) at a press conference at Haragachh that REB stopped power supply violating a High Court order. The trouble in the area began after the government handed over power supply in the area to Palli Biddut Samiti, Rangpur -2 (under REB) from Power Development Board (PDB) on November 2, 2002. Local people protested the transfer, alleging that it would increase load shedding. Since then local people staged demonstrations on several occasions under the banner of HBGSP, demanding power supply under PDB. Earlier, on a prayer given on behalf of HBGSP, a Rangpur court stayed execution of REB service in Haragachh and ordered a status quo. Since then, neither PDB nor REB realised electricity bills from consumers. The HBGSP on July 3 appealed to the High Court, which also ordered a status quo. Amin Uddin, Secretary of HBGSP claimed that REB unlawfully snapped the power line violating the HC order. General Manager of Rangpur Polli Biddut Samity-2 Enamul Hoque admitted that the power supply was snapped as huge amounts of bills were unrealised. He, however said the Samity is yet to get a copy of the HC order.
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