The newly formed North-West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd.
(NWZPDC), a detached distribution wing of the Bangladesh Power
Development Board (BPDB or PDB) is likely to start its operation from
1st October. Sources from PDB has further confirmed that, the
operation of company’s asset valuation is going on currently. The
NWZPDC will operate in the Rajshahi regions.
A Power Purchase Agreement is already being signed between the PDB and
the newly formed NWZPDC. The agreement will allow NWZPDC to purchase
electricity from PDB, and the company will be responsible for
distributing the purchased power among the existing customers of the
Rajshahi region. A committee is also formed and it’s on its course
determining the asset value of the company.
The trade unions of PDB was firmly against the split up of the
distribution wing, as they held several demonstration programs
throughout the month of July and August of this year against the
government decision.
The state minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul
Hamid made an agreement with the trade union leaders of PDB on 1st
September at a meeting. According to the agreement, the newly formed
companies will be operating as the subsidiaries of the PDB, in other
words, the PDB will be the holding company. However, the agreement has
no citing on the time schedules of implementing the Terms of the
agreement.
Meanwhile, a new Managing Director is already being appointed for the
NWZPDC and other officials and employees will be recruited gradually
from the PDB.
Sources from the Power Division has informed that, the formation of
another two new separate distribution companies is on its way. The two
new distribution companies will be operating in the southern and
central regions namely in the Chittagong and Sylhet regions.