TDS Desk:

Employees of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board on Thursday held a blackout program in some regions, protesting the dismissal and arrest of some officials and threatening a “complete nationwide blackout” and a long march towards Dhaka if their demands are not met within 12 hours.

Four coordinators of the “Palli Bidyut Samity Anti-Discrimination Movement” made the statement, making three main demands: the removal of the chairman of the BREB, the reinstatement of 20 sacked officials and the withdrawal of false cases against them.

When asked about the blackout, movement coordinator and Assistant General Manager Rajan Kumar Das told that the protesters had not wanted to resort to this action.

He added that they had been peacefully protesting while maintaining emergency services since January. “Despite several meetings with the authorities, our demands were not met. Even then, we continued with our peaceful demonstration.”

“However, the BREB chairman filed cases against us, and 20 officers who stood in solidarity with us were dismissed. As a result, we have imposed a blackout in 30 districts from noon until now, and we expect the power supply to halt soon in the remaining districts.”

Rajan said they had sent letters requesting discussions with the chief adviser, power adviser and power secretary, “but so far, we have received no response.”

Due to the blackout, 17 out of 80 BREB regions, including Netrakona, Dhaka-1, Dhaka-2, Barisal-1, Comilla-1, Comilla-2, Comilla-3, Comilla-4, Magura and Brahmanbaria, are without electricity, disrupting the lives of about 12 million customers, who are now demanding a swift resolution to the issue.