Power disconnected at Chattogram market over unpaid bills

The Power Development Board (PDB) has cut off electricity transmission to a market in Chattogram as it did not pay bills for the past four months. 

Located in the port city's Chawk Bazar area, the Subashati Sayed Center also houses 32 residential flats. The building falls under the jurisdiction of the Kazir Dewri Stadium area branch of the PDB.

The PDB says the electricity lines of the market were disconnected due to arrears of Tk11.5 lakh, accumulated in the last four months.

Even though the market had remained closed due to Covid-19, it had recently opened on a limited scale. But now shopkeepers and residents are suffering now due to the power cut.

"We had to cut the power since they did not pay us even after we served a notice mentioning June 22 as the last date. Considering the current crisis, we have promised to restore the power even if they can pay only half the bill," said Ujjal Kumar Mohanto, supervising engineer of Kazir Dewri PDB.

Bipul Barman, manager of the market, said people could not pay the bills because of the pandemic.