Palli Bidyut Samity officials and employees have marched to Dhaka for seven-point demands, including the removal of the Rural Electricity Board (REB) chairman. The officials and employees have warned that if necessary, they will shut down Palli Bidyut services across the country to keep the movement going.
Engineer Rajan Kumar Das, one of the leaders of the movement, made this announcement on behalf of the members and employees of the Palli Bidyut Samity while standing at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Engineer Rajan Kumar Das said: "We will continue our program even in the rain and the heat of the sun. Currently, the March to Dhaka program of the Palli Bidyut Samity is ongoing with a 7-point demand to keep the electricity service running.
He said: "We will continue this program until our demands are met and the REB chairman is removed. If necessary, the rural electricity supply across the country will be stopped. This time, none of us will return to work until our demands are implemented."
He further said: "We submitted a memorandum with public signatures to the energy adviser on January 21 and in the second phase on April 26 to resolve the existing crisis, including reinstating the officers and employees, withdrawing cases, implementing a single and uniform service code, and regularizing irregular workers.”
He added: “But no action has been taken by the Power Department in this regard. Last year, in October, the then special assistant to the chief adviser, Mahfuj Alam, announced a solution through discussion in a press conference, but no discussion was held.”
He further said: “The last time these demands were asked to sit for discussion on May 18, seeking the cooperation of the government, there was no positive response. Therefore, a March to Dhaka program has been announced from today (Wednesday) until the demands are implemented."
Officials leading the movement said that the interim government formed an expert committee on rural electricity reform on October 23 to resolve the existing crisis between the Rural Electrification Board (REB) and the Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS).
However, even after seven long months, the report has not been published yet.
On the other hand, the level of REB's oppression and torture on the workers of the association has increased due to their joining the movement.
So far, 29 people have been dismissed from their jobs without notice, sued, and imprisoned; more than fifty workers have been dismissed and transferred peacefully due to their joining the movement.
In addition, seven people have been dismissed for conducting a mass signature campaign for the memorandum. In the last four and a half months, more than 4,000 employees have been given punitive transfers.
In the past week, more than 1,500 line crews have been issued harassing transfer orders. As a result, jobs have been lost. Some female workers have been forced to leave.
Five people have also been fired without notice due to posts on Facebook. They have been accused of a deliberate conspiracy.
They wanted freedom from all conspiracies, a resolution to the BERB-PBC crisis, and an effective solution to the seven-point demands
At this time, the leaders of the association raised seven demands. The demands mentioned:
- Removal of the tyrannical REB Chairman
- Merge REB-PBIS through the implementation of one and the same service rules or restructure it like other distribution organizations in the country
- Regularization of jobs of meter readers, line workers and catering workers
- Withdrawal of false and harassing cases and reinstatement of those dismissed to their posts
- Cancellation of all harassing and punitive transfer orders including line crew in the interest of customer service and immediate posting of dismissed and attached workers.
- Implementation of specific working hours/shifting duties for emergency service workers and increase manpower
- Until complete reform is carried out, an interim board should be formed to manage the activities of the Rural Electricity Association.
Present at the event were Deputy General Manager (DGM) of Palli Bidyut Samity Rahat Hossain, DGM Ali Hasan Mohammad Ariful Islam, DGM Asaduzzaman Bhuiyan, AGM O&M Abdul Hakim, AGM Monir Hossain, Junior Engineer Hasanuzzaman and others employees.
