NESCO customers have formed a human chain and signed a memorandum demanding cancellation of project including installation of prepaid meters of Northern Electricity Supply (NESCO) in Phulbari, Dinajpur.
The customers have warned of tough agitation if their demands are not met. On Sunday (November 2) at 11 am, the residents of Phulbari formed this hour-long human chain with banners at Nimtala intersection of the municipal town along the Dinajpur-Gobindaganj regional highway.
Hundreds of people from various walks of life of the upazila participated in the human chain. The human chain, moderated by journalist Al Amin Bin Amjad, was addressed by Tajmilur Rahman Nayan, former general secretary of Phulbari Upazila BNP and editor of the weekly Phulbari Barta, Imran Chowdhury Nishad, joint coordinator of Jatiya Nagorik Party Dinajpur district branch, Anwarul Islam, member secretary of Upazila Swechchhasebak Dal, Shahed Islam, joint convener of Municipal Jubo Dal, Ziabur Rahman, convener of Upazila Chhatra Dal, Mehedi Hasan, joint general secretary of Private University Chhatra Dal, July fighters Sabbir Hossain, Shipon Ahmed, businessman Sohel Rana, Saju Ashrafi and many others.
The speakers at the human chain said that the people of this region depend on agriculture and they make a living by selling agricultural products in the market. Since the harvest is every 6 months, it is difficult for them to operate prepaid meters. Besides, the demand charge and meter rent of prepaid meters are nothing but a burden on the people.
The speakers said that the previous Hasina government looted thousands of crores of taka from the power department during its rule. It forced customers to switch from analog to digital electricity meters. The prepaid meter installation project is basically a project of their own loot. This project was taken up in 2017. After that, even though the Hasina government fell, their friends left behind are making arrangements for looting by implementing that project.
They also said that the peace-loving people of Phulbari know how to protest. They showed the anti-coal mine movement. At that time, they resisted the Phulbari open-pit coal mine project with their lives. If there is a conspiracy to accept or impose any project against the interests of the people of Phulbari again, the people of Phulbari will resist it unitedly. If any unpleasant incident occurs, NESCO will have to bear the responsibility.
They warned of strict protests if the prepaid meter installation project is not canceled and the installation is not stopped within the next 48 hours. At the end of the human chain, a memorandum was submitted to the Upazila Executive Officer demanding the closure of this project.
Areful Islam, resident engineer of NESCO Phulbari, said that installing pre-paid meters is a government decision, and there is no opportunity to go beyond the government decision.
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