A case has been filed at Dhaka's Khilkhet police station against 10 officials of the Palli Bidyut Samiti on charges of destabilizing the power sector.
The case was lodged on Thursday by Md Arshad Hossain, director (administration) of the Rural Electrification Board (REB).
The complaint alleges that certain officials and employees of the Palli Bidyut Samiti are conspiring to disrupt power activities with the support of ministers, members of parliament, and influential figures from the previous government.
The REB took action after months of protests by Palli Bidyut Samiti employees, who have been demonstrating with two key demands.
In response, the REB dismissed 20 officials of the Samiti on Thursday, leading employees to shut down electricity supply in protest.
This resulted in prolonged power outages in rural areas across various districts and raised concerns about potential nationwide disruptions.
The REB, which operates 80 Palli Bidyut Samitis and employs around 45,000 people, provides 55% of the country’s total electricity.
The protesting employees are demanding the unification of the REB and the Palli Bidyut Samitis, the implementation of uniform service rules, and permanent appointments for contractual and irregular workers.
In a statement issued by the protesters on Thursday, they condemned the dismissal of 20 officials, the filing of cases against them, and the arrest of several employees.
They demanded the removal of the REB chairman, the withdrawal of the termination orders, and the cancellation of the cases within 24 hours. If their demands are not met, they warned they would initiate a march towards Dhaka.