Consumers suffer as Palli Bidyut Samity staff strike continues
The strike entered 4th day today
Almost 40,000 staffers of Palli Bidyut Samiti (PBS) continued their indefinite strike for the fourth day yesterday demanding to eliminate discrimination and implement uniform service rules with the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB).
Meanwhile, common people who came to seek services were suffering.
The Palli Bidyut officials and employees gathered in front their respective offices with banners and festoons to protest against the discrimination.
Maidur Rahman, who went to Dhaka-1 zonal office with an application to change the electric meter, said he came to know that all the officers were holding a strike and protest programme.
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He said, "I came here for the last three days, the situation is the same today. No one is available in the office due to strike. Many others like me had come to seek service and failed."
Tofail Ahmed, a customer from Savar, said, "When I came for a service related to the meter, I saw everyone protesting outside the office. I asked when the agitation would end, but no one could say."
Staffers began protesting in front of offices after boycotting work since 5 May.
PBS sources said that the Samity is engaged in supplying electricity to about 4 crore customers (80%) of the country. The officers and employees of these associations controlled by BREB are constantly being subjected to various discriminations.
Protesting staffers said there is a disparity in designation, salaries, benefits, promotion and weekly leave of permanent and contractual workers, despite working in the same organisation.
However, the protesting staffers said that even as the strike ensues, one person is working in each substation to keep the emergency power supply normal.
