The intelligence agency has reported that officials and employees of the Palli Bidyut Samity are observing a mass leave program in an attempt to sabotage the upcoming national parliamentary election.
After a meeting at the Secretariat on Thursday, Adviser of the Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Ministry, Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, mentioned this intelligence information and said that the government is being tolerated with their demands. Though if they do not return to their work, legal actions will be taken. He also informed that three general diaries (GDs) have already been filed in different police stations, with instructions given to police for further investigation.
The adviser further alleged that some parties are colluding behind the movement of the Palli Bidyut Samity with the aim of disrupting the national election. He added that intelligence reports has confirmed that conspirators attempting to foil the election are instigating the movement. Calling on officials and employees on mass leave to immediately return to work, he warned that, otherwise legal action would be taken. “If tolerance is mistaken as weakness, that would be wrong,” he cautioned.
The adviser said that the government has alternative means to keep the Palli Bidyut Samity operational, and no discussion will be held with employees who fail to return to duty.
Claiming that the government is not indifferent to the Samity’s problems, Fauzul Kabir Khan said that various initiatives have been taken to address their legitimate demands. Over 800 transfer orders have been reversed, a new service rule for officers and employees is being drafted, and a seven-member committee headed by former secretary Aziz Hasan has been formed to investigate irregularities and corruption in the Samity.
He also announced that if the officials and employees on mass leave do not return, private technicians will be appointed — meaning local-level technicians will be hired. If necessary, staff from other electricity supply companies will be brought in to manage the operations of the REB.
Currently, officials and employees of the Palli Bidyut Samity across the country are voluntarily observing the mass leave program over various demands, causing service disruptions for electricity consumers. The Power Division had earlier issued a 24-hour ultimatum to stop the ongoing program, but the employees have not returned to work.
In response to a question, the adviser said that the ongoing load-shedding across the country was caused by the shutdown of several large power plants, but this crisis is temporary. “Two days ago, the problem was more severe; now it has lessened and will further reduce,” he assured.
To tackle the gas crisis, increased LNG imports are being made. This year, 108 LNG cargoes have been imported compared to 84 cargoes last year. Despite the higher cost of imports, the adviser confirmed that gas prices will not be increased.