The four probe bodies formed by the electricity distribution companies, to identify the persons responsible for the disastrous blackout that paralyzed the whole country on October 4, could not submit their investigation reports within the stipulated time.
When contacted by Dhaka Tribune on Sunday, top officials could not specifically say when they would be able to submit their findings to the ministry concerned. Each committee includes a high official of the Power Division as a member.
On October 17, on the orders of the ministry, the Dhaka Electric Supply Company (Desco), Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC), Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and Rural Electrification Board (REB) formed four investigation committees. They were asked to submit reports within three days.
On October 16, the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited (PGCB) investigation committee submitted its probe report several days after the deadline, blaming a lack of coordination, competition among distribution companies and tripping problems in power transmission at Ghorashal. In view of this, State Minister Nasrul Hamid ordered the suspension of an assistant engineer and a deputy assistant engineer of the PGCB.
On October 4, power outages occurred simultaneously in the eastern and central parts of the country at 2:04pm. Power supply was gradually restored between 5pm and 9pm. The ministry and the PGCB formed two probe committees the same day.
DPDC Managing Director Engineer Bikas Dewan on Sunday said that no report of the investigation committees had reached him yet.
“Nothing can be said about the submission time at the moment,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
Desco MD Kausar Amir Ali said that their investigation committee had sought 1-2 more days.
BPDB Secretary Mohammad Salim Reza was also unsure about the submission of the probe report.
REB Member (Planning and Development) Md Amjad Hossain said: “Our investigation is ongoing. I hope that the investigation committee will submit the report by [Monday].”