Photo: Collected
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud has expressed strong anger and regret over an incident in Magura in which a residential consumer was handed an absurd bill of about Tk 507 crore against the use of 235 units of electricity. Md Mohitul Islam, general manager (GM) of Magura Palli Bidyut Samity, has been suspended with immediate effect on charges of unpardonable negligence in the discharge of his duties.
The Rural Electrification Board took the punitive step today on the minister’s urgent directive. Soon after the matter came to his notice through the media and social media, the minister himself spoke to the affected consumer over mobile phone. During the call, he sincerely expressed regret to the consumer for the mental harassment and anxiety caused by the unwanted incident and said the bill had already been corrected and the correct bill delivered. He also requested that such problems be reported directly to the authorities in future.
Widespread sensation was created locally after the news spread in the media and on social media that a bill of Tk 506 crore 83 lakh 11 thousand 593 had been issued against the use of 235 units of electricity in September in the name of Mosammat Aleya Khatun, wife of retired teacher Shahidul Islam of Kechuadubi village in Maghi union of Magura Sadar upazila.
The minister ordered an immediate investigation as soon as he learnt of the complaint. The preliminary investigation found that the unbelievable bill was generated because, through mechanical carelessness during a meter replacement, the digits of the seal number were entered in the demand charge field. After the incident was preliminarily found to be true, the minister also directed that strict departmental and punitive action be taken against the other officials and employees involved in it.
