6 Palli Bidyut officials arrested over power sector instability

A total of six Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS) officials have been arrested in two cases filed over destabilising the power sector.

Khilkhet Police Station Investigating Officer Ashikur Rahman confirmed the matter to The Business Standard today (18 October).

The arrestees are Monir Hossain, assistant general manager (AGM) of Netrokona PBS; Rajon Kumar Das, AGM of Munshiganj PBS, Asaduzzaman Bhuiyan, deputy general manager (DGM) of Brahmanbaria PBS, Dipak Kumar Singha, DGM of Cumilla PBS, Md Rahat, DGM of Magura PBS (Shreepur Zonal Office), and Belal Hossain, DGM of Sirajganj PBS-2.

Yesterday, a case was filed against 10 PBS officials with Khilkhet Police Station.

Palli Bidyut staffers give 12hrs to remove BREB chairman; 1.20cr consumers out of electricity

Mohammad Arshad Hossain, director (administration) of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB), filed the case.

According to case documents, the plaintiff alleged that some misguided officials and employees of PBS were conspiring to destabilise the power sector. They were accused of obstructing power operations with the support of ministers, members of parliament, and influential people of the previous government.

PBS officials and employees have been protesting for several months over various demands, including the unification of the BREB and PBS, implementation of a unified service code, and permanent employment for contractual and irregular employees.

In response, the BREB dismissed 20 PBS officials yesterday, leading to protests and power outages across the country.

According to a media release by the protesters, they have demanded the removal of the BREB chairman, the cancellation of the dismissal orders, and the withdrawal of the false cases within 24 hours, threatening a long march to Dhaka if their demands are not met.