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National grid failure

Two PGCB engineers to be suspended: Nasrul


Published : 16 Oct 2022 10:18 PM | Updated : 17 Oct 2022 08:39 PM

Two engineers of the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) will be suspended by Sunday over October’s national grid failure. 

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid on Sunday told reporters at the Secretariat after receiving the PGCB’s probe report on the incident.

However, the decision has not executed till 6.30PM on Sunday.

"Action will be taken against others responsible for the incident by this week after identifying them," said the state minister.

The two officials hold the ranks of assistant engineer and sub-assistant engineer at the PGCB, but their names have not been disclosed by the ministry.

On Oct 4, half of Bangladesh was plunged into darkness for up to eight hours after a transmission line of the national grid tripped in the eastern zone. Power Grid Company of Bangladesh formed a seven-member committee to identify the reasons behind the national grid failure on October 6.

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

As many as three committees were constituted in the aftermath to investigate the grid failure.

The probe body formed by the PGCB has submitted its report to the ministry of power, according to Hamid. "Neglect of duty on part of the two officers was proven beyond doubt," he said.

Pointing out that other officials of the distribution company may also have been culpable, Hamid said action will be taken against them in line with the findings of the probe reports.

The state minister also said the power distribution company officials responsible for the failure would also face the punihments soon.

Regarding the dismissal of two engineers, ABM Badruddoza Khan, spokesperson of PGCB told Bangladesh Post“the suspending process is underway at the instructions of the state minister. 

Service rules have to be followed in case of suspension. Those concerned are working taking those matters into consideration. We hope that the decision will be implemented within the time frame announced by the State Minister.”