ACC moves to dismantle destabilising movement inside REB

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is going to take legal action against officials of the Rural Electrification Board who were behind a threat to abstain from work and even shutdown electricity in their areas to realise their demands.

ACC documents seen by UNB show that it asked five officials of various Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS) units under the Rural Electrification Board (REB) to face interrogation.

The five officials are - Humayun Kabir, DGM of Barisal PBS-1; Asaduzzaman Bhuiya, deputy general manager (DGM) of Brahmanbaria PBS; Samiul Kabir and Bipasha Islam, deputy general manager (technical) of Manikganj unit, Rajon Kumar Das, assistant general manager (AGM) of Munshiganj PBS.

ACC on Thursday formed a three-member team headed by assistant director Shahidur Rahman for the purpose. The other two members are assistant director Papon Kumar Saha and deputy assistant director Mohammed Shahjalal

ACC also said it received an allegation of earning illegal money against Humyaun Kabir from the investigation and inquiry unit of REB, which was filed by the proprietor of Khan Traders Masud Khan.

Humayun Kabir is one of the coordinators of an Anti-Discrimination Movement inside PBS.

The complaint said Humayun Kabir raised more than TK 225 crore to destabilise the political situation, aiming to embarrass the interim government. The complaint also states that the coordinators of the so-called movement inside the various PBS units have an ill-motive for the nationalisation of employees who are currently working on the master roll basis.

On Thursday, ACC issued a letter to Humayun Kabir, as well as the DGM of Brahmanbaria PBS Asaduzzaman Bhuiya, to come before it to face interrogation on 27 October, while the other three - Samiul Kabir, Bipasha Islam and Rajon Kumar Das - have been summoned to appear on 28 October.

Earlier, a section of officials from various PBS units under the REB issued a stark ultimatum, threatening a "complete shutdown" following the termination and arrest of key officials across several districts.

The officials are demanding the immediate reinstatement of the 10 terminated PBS executives and the release of those arrested, giving authorities 24 hours to meet their demands. They have also called for the removal of the REB chairman within the same timeframe, warning that failure to comply will result in a "Long March Towards Dhaka," in the form of a mass protest involving tens of thousands of PBS employees.

The threat was made in a statement from the PBS Anti-Discrimination Movement, signed by its four coordinators: Abdul Hakim, Md Salahuddin, Mohammad Asaduzzaman Bhuiya, and Rajon Kumar Das.

"Some 45,000 staff of the PBSs will be forced to go for a long march if the two-point demand is not met," the statement emphasised.

The controversy erupted after the REB terminated 10 senior officials from different PBS units, accusing them of destabilising the power sector, which is considered an essential service. The terminations also cited allegations of insubordination and involvement in activities that violated the organisation's disciplinary codes. Additionally, a working inspector from Noakhali PBS was relieved of his duties.

Among those dismissed are officials from various regions: Zakir Hossain, senior general manager of Cumilla PBS-4; Asaduzzaman Bhuiya, deputy general manager (DGM) of Brahmanbaria PBS; Rajon Kumar Das, assistant general manager (AGM) of Munshiganj PBS; Manir Hossain, AGM of Netrokona PBS; Dipak Kumar Sinha, DGM of Cumilla PBS-1; Abdul Hakim, AGM of Dhaka PBS-1; Md Salauddin, AGM of Dhaka PBS-2; Md Rahat, DGM of Magura PBS; Md Zakir Hossain, senior GM of Cumilla PBS-4; and Humayun Kabir, DGM of Barisal PBS-1.