Staff Reporter

Normal activities, businesses and production of small and middle shaped factories, workshops and even media outlet are being hampered drastically due to frequent power cuts at different parts of Sirajganj town including Goshala rail gate area.

Due to frequent power cuts, people of those areas have become irritated tremendously. But, there is no headache of the authorities concerned over improving the situation except showing excuses of ongoing project works.

“Power supply to some areas including Goshala rail gate is being disrupted due to some ongoing development works including BSCIC Industrial Park project work,” said Abdullah Al Farukh, Executive Engineer of Sales and Distributions Division-1 at NESCO PLC in Sirajganj. Another Executive Engineer of Sales and Distributions Division-2 at NESCO PLC in Sirajganj Ashith Podder also showed same plea on the frequent power cut issue.

But, both of the Xens declined to reply about the question, when the situation will improve?

Local residents and businessmen complained that, though the power supply remains almost normal at some places including SS Road, also centre of the town, electricity consumers of few parts including Goshala rail gate, Mirpur, Malshapara, Hossainpur and Chand Ali intersection of the town are being neglected in context of getting uninterrupted power supply. The residents and businessmen face immense suffering from the load-shedding occurs almost each hour. It is one kind of discrimination. Consumers of some parts are getting proper supply of electricity, while some are being deprived of services.

Locals complained that, if power goes, there is no name of come back soon. Consumers are forced to wait for power for hour after hour.

“We can’t produce and sale our goods due to frequent power outages. As a result, we are incurring huge losses every day. Filing several verbal complaints to the authorities concerned, there is no solution. Now, we are planning to stage demonstrations against the concerned engineers of the Power Development Board in Sirajganj,” said Narendra Bashak, a trader of the Goshala road.

Farid Ali Mian, a resident of the same area said, “My mother is a patient of heart and kidney disease. She is now undergoing treatment at home. But, her health condition is deteriorated gradually due to abnormal heat. We can’t use fan for want of smooth power supply. But, who will hear the speech of our agony?”

Habib Rana, a press worker said, “We can’t run our printing machines and computers properly due to frequent power outages. Consequently, printing and publication activities including works of newspaper outlet are being hampered seriously. If the situation is not improved shortly, there is no way except shutting down the businesses.”

Like Habib Rana, Farid Ali and Narendra Bashak, many consumers of the area urged the authorities concerned to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the area for the sake of survival to the businesses during the skyrocketing prices of essentials. If the businesses are stopped, many people will turn into unemployed, they claimed.