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Four more committees to probe grid disaster


Published : 18 Oct 2022 09:19 PM | Updated : 19 Oct 2022 04:45 PM

Four power Distribution Company have formed separate probe committees to identify the cause into the grid disaster of October 4 on the instruction of Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. 

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC), Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO) and Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) on Monday formed the four separate probe committees at different times of the day.

The probe committee has been asked to identify the responsible persons, who involve with the disaster and submit a report within the three days.

However, West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited and Northern Electricity Supply Company limited did not form any probe committee as they were immune to the grid disruptions.

 Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) on Sunday suspended its two officials suspended by the government for their negligence of duty that led to the nationwide grid failure on 4 October.

 The suspended officials are: Allama Hasan Bakhtiar, Sub-Divisional Engineer (SPMD, Dhaka-1) and Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Assistant Engineer (SPMD, Dhaka-1).

 Earlier, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told reporters that two engineers of the PGCB will be suspended over the recent national grid failure. Action will be taken against others responsible for the incident by this week after identifying them.

 On 6 October, the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh formed a seven-member committee to identify the reasons behind the national grid failure on 4 October that caused a seven-hour blackout across most of Bangladesh.

 The committee had three days to complete the investigation and submit its report.

 State Minister earlier said there was an imbalance between demand and supply in the eastern region of Bangladesh. The system dropped below the frequency range and the power system became unstable due to the under-frequency, causing the eastern power plants to trip. This caused the blackout.

 According to primary findings, the distribution companies were asked by the National Load Dispatch Center (NLDC) on the day of grid failure to draw less power. But not doing that led to the grid failure. The main task of the new committees will be to find those who disobeyed the instructions of the NLDC.

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