Hundreds of residents in Rangpur city staged a sit-in on Saturday against the forced installation of prepaid electricity meters by the Northern Electricity Supply Company (NESCO), accusing the utility provider of customer harassment and intimidation.
The protest, organized by the Rangpur Metropolitan Citizens’ Committee, was held in front of the Rangpur Press Club from 11:00 am. Demonstrators warned of tougher movements, including a hartal, if their demands were not met.
Freedom fighters, lawyers, teachers, business leaders, and local residents joined the program demanding an immediate halt to prepaid meter installation, which they described as “anti-consumer” and financially burdensome.
The rally was chaired by Citizens’ Committee President Prof Mojahar Ali Sarkar. Among those addressing the gathering were General Secretary Advocate Palash Kanti Nag, former Rangpur municipality chairman Kazi Mohammad Junnun, shop owners’ leader Tanvir Ashrafi, freedom fighter Abdus Sattar, and senior lawyer Advocate Khairul Alam Bappi.
Speakers alleged that NESCO officials were forcing consumers to accept “low-quality” prepaid meters and using intimidation tactics, including threats involving police action, during installations.
Retired police officer Abdus Sattar Pramanik claimed that a prepaid meter was installed at his house in his absence despite objections from family members.
“Earlier, my monthly electricity bill was between Tk 1,200 and Tk 1,400. Now I am paying nearly Tk 2,000,” he alleged, adding that money was being deducted under various charges immediately after recharging the meter.
Advocate Palash Kanti Nag said demands for a public hearing on the issue had been ignored. He warned that if authorities failed to stop the installation of prepaid meters immediately, the citizens’ committee would announce stricter protest programs, including hartal.
