The ultimatum given by the state minister for power, energy and mineral resources is a "ruthless deception" against the general public, Tenant Council President Md Baharan Sultan Bahar has said.
According to the ultimatum, late fees will be re-imposed and action will be taken as per the rules if the due electricity bills of March, April and May are not paid by June 30.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Baharan Sultan said: “For the global coronavirus pandemic, the whole nation including Dhaka is stagnant now. People’s livelihood is almost cut off. And when even survival has also become a challenge, forcing customers to do so is just inhumane.”
Baharan also said: “Since the onset of the coronavirus, the general public has been discouraged from paying their electricity bills. It has been said that in the interest of customer cooperation, the delay in gas and electricity bills has been waived till June. There will be no problem even if one pays the bill later on.
“So the financially distressed general people became optimistic about the government's assurance and refrained from paying the bill.
“However, we think giving the ultimatum to the people to pay all the bills, before the country returns to a normal situation, is a breach of the promise given to them. Moreover, so many bills have increased the burden over them. Even ghost bills in some places are not really being resolved,” he added.
The president of the Tenants' Council called upon the government to extend the deadline for payment of electricity bills by considering all the consumers, including the general tenants.
Late fees should be waived completely. After three more months, one month should be added to the bill, giving opportunity to everyone to pay.
“Meanwhile, the ultimatum to pay the full bill is putting financial and emotional burden on the consumers. I strongly demand to release the people from this pressure,” he added.
