Head of Probe Committee behind Ghostly Electricity Bill!

Due to coronavirus pandemic before Eid-ul-Fitr, two months electricity bill was paid at once and then there was the allegation of spooky bills. After various excuses from the power department, it is now known that the additional bill was ordered to 'show success'.

The directive was given by SM Shahidul Islam, Director, ICT, Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC).

Surprisingly, Shahidul Islam is the head of the probe committee set up by the DPDC after allegations of ghost bills surfaced. On the basis of his recommendation, the officers were again suspended and show caused.

Last March-April, there was a huge outcry among the electricity consumers over spooky bill. There were various investigation committees but customers did not get any solution. Although the fine was waived, the extra bill had to be paid. Those who have been able to prove the allegations are told to adjust after the paying the bill.

The task force on ghostly electricity bills then found inconsistencies in the bills of 62,096 customers. Of these, 34,611 are subscribers of Rural Electrification Board (REB), 15,026 of Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC), 5,658 of Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO), 2,552 of Northern Electric Supply Company (Nesco) and 2,500. 556 people of Zone Power Distribution Company (Ozopadiko) and 2562 people of Power Development Board (PDB) were affected by the extra bills.

The DPDC investigated and suspended four people, including one executive engineer, and issued show cause notices to 36 executive engineers. In addition, a total of 14 people, including 13 meter readers and data entry operators, were exempted from contract work. This was done on the basis of an investigation by a committee headed by SM Shahidul Islam, Director, ICT, DPDC. But the real information came up in response to his show cause. Those who received the showcase replied, "It was SM Shahidul Islam who instructed them to pay the extra bill. They also submitted e-mails instructing Shahidul Islam and a chart of instructions on how much to bill more in an area sent to them. It shows that he asked to increase the maximum bill by 75 percent. This order was given on April 6. It is learned that the purpose of this was to get 'performance bonus' by collecting more electricity bills

Despite repeated attempts to talk about it, Shahidul Islam was unable to reach. However, DPDC MD Bikash Dewan claimed, "Nothing like this has happened." No instructions were given to collect additional bills. The bill was for two months at a time. "

However, the state minister for power admitted that there were documents regarding the instructions to collect the additional bill, but in response he called for an inquiry. "There has been a high-level inquiry committee," he said Asked if any action would be taken against Shahidul Islam, he said, "He was made the head of the inquiry committee because of his position at the time. We will have to wait for a new investigation. "

He claimed, "DPDC has not given any official instructions to collect the additional electricity bill." And if anyone does it, it is his personal responsibility Consumers can take legal action against it if they wish. "

Meanwhile, State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid Khan said, "Those who have done this have conspired against the government." They will be investigated and action will be taken against them. "

But analysts say they are trying to cover it up by spending time on it. The order to collect extra bill is directly against the prevailing law of the country. Those who have done this need to be brought under law by filing a criminal case.

"It is the responsibility of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to look into it," said Shamsul Alam, an energy adviser to the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB). But they are not watching They are avoiding responsibility. Where their job is to settle the matter through a hearing between the two parties, they did not They just wanted to know in a letter what action had been taken."

Meanwhile, BERC sources said that they have already questioned five people including Shahidul Islam in the incident.

Source: DW Bangla

Translator: Apurbo Roy