The task force formed by the power division has recommended action against 287 officials and employees of four power distribution companies in the country for failing to coordinate ghost electricity bills within the stipulated seven days.
As per the recommendation of the task force, Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) limited has suspended 5 employees hastily.
Consumers for the past two months have been complaining about overbilling by the power distribution companies. As the complaints against ghost electricity bills started to pour in across the country, the power division formed a task force headed by an additional secretary on June 25. Distribution companies were instructed to submit their findings within seven days.
The task force has recommended the temporary dismissal of four engineers of DPDC. In addition, 36 engineers have been given show cause notices and another 13 meter- readers have been recommended to be dismissed.
“Four DPDC officers, who have been suspended according to the recommendation, are Helal Uddin, an engineer of Adabar regional office, sub-divisional engineer Raihanul Alam, assistant engineer Mojibul Rahman Bhuiyan and computer data entry coordinator Jasmine Ahmed in the same zone.
Those who have been suspended will be permanently dismissed if found guilty after investigation. Besides, the company has also served show-cause notices to all executive engineers of 36 Network Operation and Customer Services (NOCS) offices, asking them to respond within 10 days, and transferred two chief engineers.
DPDC's CSS (Customer Support Service) organization works as a meter reading collector. It is recommended to take action as per the agreement against the companies recruited in seven zones. Besides, the recruitment of 13 meter-readers and one supervisor has been canceled. There are seven NOCs, which are Narayanganj (East), Narayanganj (West), Adabar, Kakrail, Banasree and Jurain.
Engineer Bikash Dewan, Managing Director of Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC), told ‘a committee from the ministry was formed and the deadline was fixed at seven days.
As per the recommendations of the committee, some officials and staff have been suspended and 36 have been given show cause notices. Some field workers have been recommended for dismissal. We have started taking actions as per the recommendations of the committee.”
Meanwhile, Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (Desco) has withdrawn two meter-readers and served show-cause notices to seven other officials. It has also been recommended to dismiss two meter- readers of Northern Electricity Supply Company (Nesco) Limited, a power distribution company in 16 districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur.
West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited, a distribution company in 21 districts in the south-west, has been recommended to take various disciplinary measures, including dismissal, against 230 officials and employees.
Rural Electrification Board (REB), the country's largest distribution body, has not yet provided any information on who is responsible for the spooky bills of the 80 Palli Bidyut Shamities. Similarly, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) has not given any information yet.
Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the government decided not to impose any fine on the delayed electricity bill payment from February to June. However, a number of customers complained about the preparation of ghost electricity bills against the power distribution companies in the last 3-4 months. Many have already paid the extra bills to avoid hassle.