Rajshahi Correspondent:

Residents of Rajshahi staged a human chain anubd smitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) on Tuesday, demanding an immediate halt to prepaid electricity meter connections in the city.

The protest took place at 11 AM in front of Shahid Minar in Rajshahi Court area under the banner of “Conscious Rajshahi Residents.”

Speaking on behalf of the protesting group, MA Sobur criticized prepaid meters, citing frequent disconnections due to overload, low battery issues, meter lockups from incorrect or old token loads, voltage fluctuations, complicated reconnections after charging, high bills in some cases and the high cost and complexity of recharging.

He argued that such problems could create significant hardship for ordinary citizens and accused authorities of shifting the burden of inefficiency onto the public.

Sobur demanded that within seven days, new connections be halted, electricity slab rates be revised, demand charges abolished, procedural difficulties for new connections reduced, service quality improved and various other charges lowered.

He warned that failure to act would lead to a larger movement.

Other speakers at the event included Hafiz Md Khairul Islam, Joint General Secretary of Rajshahi City Workers’ Welfare Federation; Md Shahin Hossain, Organizational Secretary of Rajpara thana BNP; social worker AB Siddique and Hafiz Md Shahadat Hossain, General Secretary of Ward-2 Workers’ Welfare Federation.