Legal notice against 3 officials of PDB in Jangaliya, Comilla, alleging corruption

A legal notice has been sent against three officials of Jangalia Power Development Board (PDB) in Comilla, including the executive engineer, alleging irregularities, corruption and abuse of power. The notice was issued alleging that the customer was being subjected to financial and emotional loss by paying 'ghost bills' and illegal disconnection despite installation of prepaid meters.

Bangladesh Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Md Rezaul Kabir sent this notice on behalf of Md Anwar Hossain, son of deceased Babul Hossain, son of Srimantpur village of Comilla Sadar Dakshin Upazila, the aggrieved customer.

The officials who received the notice are, 1. Parvez Ahmed, Executive Engineer, PDB, Jangalia, Comilla, 2. Ayub Ali, Deputy Assistant Engineer, PDB, Jangalia, Comilla, 3. Anich, Meter Reader (Srimantapur Area), PDB, Jangalia, Comilla.

According to the notice, Anwar Hossain was using the active electricity meter (No-31694612) since his father's time. The analog meter after paying the dues of Tk 10,285 on October 7 last year
Prepaid meter (No. 12100996680) was installed by depositing it in the Pirapiri of the Electricity Office.

As per rules there is not supposed to be any arrears in the prepaid meter, on February 9 this year, it was suddenly disconnected (locked) after displaying an analog outstanding bill of Rs 35,179.

When customer Anwar Hossain went to sub-assistant engineer Ayub Ali about this unusual bill, he asked him to pay the dues. Later on questioning the meter reader Aneesh, he admitted that "the unit was under-noted by keeping the unit on the meter." The notice termed the action of the meter reader as anti-state and illegal.

The customer was forced to pay a total of Tk 36,460 including tax in installments last month. Despite this, his electricity connection was kept disconnected from February 23 to February 25. As a result, about 32,100 rupees worth of daily food items stored in the refrigerator on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan were spoiled by rotting. In this the customer faces extreme financial and inhuman life.

As mentioned in the legal noticethat,The customer has been harassed through abuse of power and corruption despite being a government employee. If the customer does not pay the financial compensation within 30 days of receiving the notice, civil and criminal cases will be filed against the officials according to the prevailing laws of the country, it has been mentioned.