Braving torrential rains, forum activists and members of all non-governmental organisations staged demonstration carrying black flags and chanting slogans for solving the severe power outage prevailing in the southwestern region of the country.

The demonstrators led by KCF Chairperson Shaikh Abdul Kayyum made an attempt to prevent the state minister from entering the office of WZPDCL at Boyra, but failed due to prompt action by law enforcers.

'I don't mind as your reaction is quite justified. You are deprived of your rights to get electricity without loadshedding,' the state minister told the demonstrators.

Later addressing the local journalists, officials of WZPDCL and CBA leaders Anowarul Kabir blamed the administrative loopholes for power outages.

He however hoped that the power crisis now prevailing all over the country would be resolved in next three to four months.

Earlier during the visit of the power station at Khalishpur, the state minister expressed his dissatisfaction over the poor maintenance of costly machines.

He directed the PDB chairman to transfer two officials of Goalpara Power Station to PDB head office in Dhaka on charges of negligence to duty.

The two officials are Bishwa Nath Halder and Nirapada Sarker who are managers of units one and two respectively of the power station.

The state minister accused the managers of unit one and two of misappropriating over Tk 100 crore in the name of repairing and overhauling works.

He also reprimanded the chief engineer for not doing his duties properly.

The state minister said a high powered committee would be formed soon to probe into corruption of a section of Goalpara Power Station officials who are largely responsible for deplorable condition of 110 megawatt and 60 megawatt plants.

The probe committee will begin work very soon, he added.