ICEA

Outreach: Mymensingh, December 2009

The BERC Consumer Outreach Program on "Electricity Regulation and Consumer Rights" appeared as an effective approach of raising awareness about service, use, and regulation among the general consumers of Bangladesh.

ICEA local partner LawDev (Bangladesh) facilitated this BERC outreach event with the cooperation of Bhokta Moncho, Mymensingh District Committee. It outreach event took place at Shaheb Kachari High School, Mymensingh on 12 December 2009. The meeting was participated by representatives from different organizations and also by people from various phases of that locality.

Starting the event, S. M. Saikat, General Secretary of Bhakta Moncho central committee, gave a concise summary of the basic aim of this program followed by a welcome speech from the chief guest Mr. Faizur Rahman Fakir (Chairman of Upazilla Parishad, Tangail) where he discussed the difficulties of the local people in getting uninterrupted electricity service. Thereafter, consumers shared agonies caused by the irregular and inadequate electricity service. One farmer accused the unavailability of electricity for his low agricultural output; some other local people complained that they could not get even a single connection even after approaching the authority for several times. Some local people claimed PDB & PBS as profit making business organization, whereas Mr. Gias (teacher of Shaheb Kachari High School) complained about the burden of paying monthly meter fare, even after buying the same meter. Consumers demanded prior notice of load shedding.

Mr. Mizanur Rahman, AGM of Mymensingh PBS, in his address pointed at the low production of electricity as a national crisis. In reply to the meter fare, he mentioned that it is taken as security money not as a price of the meter. He also provided a statistics of providing 800 connections out of every 1200 applications. At last he asked the consumers to give their complaints in writing so that effective measures could be taken.

Towards the conclusion of the meeting BERC member Md. Emdadul Haque gave a concise introduction of BERC. He mentioned in his speech that BERC is not only a Regulator but also acts as a quasi-judiciary body, which is mainly aimed towards saving the consumers from any illegality of the utility providers. He insisted that the local consumers should have patience and undergo due process of law in retaining their rights. Finally he also called upon all the participant consumers to get involved in demand side management of power for the greater benefit of the nation.

The meeting ended with the vote of thanks from Tanjib Rashid Khan, who in his address expressed his gratitude to Bhokta Moncho for jointly organizing such a worthy event. He also uttered words of appreciation to BERC for initiating this seminar which is of much importance for the rural people to develop their knowledge & awareness of their rights and duties regarding electricity in this country.