Outreach: Moulvibazaar, February 2010

With the initiation by BERC, the Consumer Outreach Program on "Electricity Regulation and Consumer Rights" appeared as an effective approach to raising awareness about electricity service, use, and energy regulation in Bangladesh. Many in attendance noted that this is, from their memory, the very first successful consumer seminar ever to take place in Moulvibazar.

ICEA local partner LawDev (Bangladesh) facilitated this BERC program with the cooperation of a local working group called SEDA (Socio Economic Development Alliance). The event took place at Giasnagar Government Primary School, Moulvibazar on 13 February 2010. Speakers included representatives from different organizations including BERC Chairman & members, Dr. Tureen Afroz, LawDev (Bangladesh) consumer Advocates & Associates, Vice Chairman of Upazilla Parishad, representatives GM & Chief Engineer of local PBS, NGOs, social workers, teachers, students, housewives, local workers, day laborers, farmers, and mostly by neighboring women participants etc.

Starting the day’s event, Sk. Shamsuzzaman Ahmed, Chairman of SEDA, gave a concise summary of the basic aim of this program followed by a welcome speech from the special guests. Dr. Tureen Afroz, speaking in the local language, shaded a light of hope for local consumers in dealing with PBS authority through the Bangladesh energy regulatory process. In simple words, Dr. Afroz invited the general people to share their stories and work together on creating energy solutions with BERC.

Thereafter, the common consumers individually began to share their agonies caused by the irregular and inadequate electricity service. One farmer mentioned that PBS is reluctant in providing electricity line in his area even though there is a pillar near his residence. Some other local people complained that they could not get even a single connection even after approaching the authority for several times. Complaints were raised regarding lack of liaison between the authority and the local consumers, unavailability of transformers, unscheduled load shedding, alleged misdeeds by PBS members, illegal money exchange, and unrealistic electricity bills.

Ms. Rasheda Khan, Vice Chairman of Union Parishad of Moulvibazar also expressed dissatisfaction with irregular electricity service and assured the local people to respite them from this irregularity as soon as possible through proper legal actions. The GM of Moulvibazar 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. At last he asked the consumers to give their complaints in writing so that effective measures could be taken.

Thereafter BERC member Md. Emdadul Haque gave a concise introduction of BERC. He had also mentioned that the consumers have to pay higher to get better service. He insisted the local consumers to 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.
Towards the conclusion of the meeting Md. Saiyad Yusuf Hossain, Chairman of BERC, requested the GM of local PBS to stand by him on the dais and directed questions to him on the complaints raised by the consumers. He also invited the consumers to seek assistance from BERC if PBS does not attend their complaints adequately in due time. The meeting ended with the vote of thanks from Sk. Shamsuzzaman Ahmed, Chairman of SEDA, where he uttered words of appreciation to BERC for initiating this useful program.