Govt fails to resolve BPDB dispute

For the second time, the government has failed to come to a compromise with the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) staff regarding the handover of the Rajshahi and Rangpur Area to North West Power Distribution Company (NWPDC). During a meeting with the state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, Nasrul Hamid, yesterday, the workers demanded that BPDB should be run as a holding company and the other power sector companies should be its subsidiaries. Sources said Hamid, in principle, agreed to convert BPDB into a holding company. But before that, he wanted to see NWPDC start operating as a company with the assets of BPDB. But the BPDB leader refused the offer.
Last week, the BPDB staff had a meeting with Hamid and shipping minister Shahjahan Khan, but the matter was not resolved. Hamid later told reporters that NWPDC would start working soon as a separate company. The government was “determined” to do that, he said.
Zahirul Islam Chowdhury, president of the Bidyut Shramik League, told The Independent, “We will announce the second round of demonstrations against the government’s decision.” Government officials said that some ministers would meet the prime minister this week regarding the power sector issue.
Officials and employees of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) on Tuesday went on a three-day programme, deepening the crisis over the government move to split its operations.
Many of the 19,500 staff members of BPDB refrained from attending offices after submitting applications for three days of leave. The power supply situation, however, remained unhampered during the agitation. The unrest ensued after the BPDB recently handed over its operations of Rangpur and Rajshahi regions to North West Zone Power Distribution Company (NWZPDC).
The crisis deepened as the government remained rigid on its stance despite repeated requests from the BPDB employees and officials to scrap the decision. Although the power supply situation remained smooth, administrative and other regular activities hampered seriously due to the agitation by most of the officials and employees.

Govt fails to resolve BPDB dispute

For the second time, the government has failed to come to a compromise with the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) staff regarding the handover of the Rajshahi and Rangpur Area to North West Power Distribution Company (NWPDC). During a meeting with the state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, Nasrul Hamid, yesterday, the workers demanded that BPDB should be run as a holding company and the other power sector companies should be its subsidiaries. Sources said Hamid, in principle, agreed to convert BPDB into a holding company. But before that, he wanted to see NWPDC start operating as a company with the assets of BPDB. But the BPDB leader refused the offer. Last week, the BPDB staff had a meeting with Hamid and shipping minister Shahjahan Khan, but the matter was not resolved. Hamid later told reporters that NWPDC would start working soon as a separate company. The government was determined to do that, he said. Zahirul Islam Chowdhury, president of the Bidyut Shramik League, told The Independent, We will announce the second round of demonstrations against the governments decision. Government officials said that some ministers would meet the prime minister this week regarding the power sector issue. Officials and employees of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) on Tuesday went on a three-day programme, deepening the crisis over the government move to split its operations. Many of the 19,500 staff members of BPDB refrained from attending offices after submitting applications for three days of leave. The power supply situation, however, remained unhampered during the agitation. The unrest ensued after the BPDB recently handed over its operations of Rangpur and Rajshahi regions to North West Zone Power Distribution Company (NWZPDC). The crisis deepened as the government remained rigid on its stance despite repeated requests from the BPDB employees and officials to scrap the decision. Although the power supply situation remained smooth, administrative and other regular activities hampered seriously due to the agitation by most of the officials and employees.