A section of officials from various Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS) units under the Rural Electrification Board (REB) have issued a stark ultimatum, threatening a "complete shutdown" following the termination and arrest of key officials across several districts.
The officials are demanding the immediate reinstatement of the 10 terminated PBS executives and the release of those arrested, giving authorities 24 hours to meet their demands.
They have also called for the removal of the REB chairman within the same timeframe, warning that failure to comply will result in a "Long March towards Dhaka," a mass protest involving tens of thousands of PBS employees.
The threat was made in a statement from the PBS Anti-discrimination Movement, signed by its four coordinators- Abdul Hakim, Md Salahuddin, Mohammad Asaduzzaman Bhuiya, and Rajon Kumar Das.
"Some 45,000 staff of the PBSs will be forced to go for a long march if the two-point demands are not met," the statement emphasised.
The controversy erupted after the REB terminated 10 senior officials from different PBSs, accusing them of destabilising the power sector, which is considered an essential service. The terminations also cited allegations of insubordination and involvement in activities that violated the organisation's disciplinary codes.
Additionally, a working inspector from Noakhali PBS was relieved of his duties.
Among those dismissed are officials from various regions- Zakir Hossain, senior general manager of Cumilla PBS-4, Asaduzzaman Bhuiya, deputy general manager (DGM) of Brahmanbaria PBS, Rajon Kumar Das, assistant general manager (AGM) of Munshiganj PBS, Manir Hossain, AGM of Netrokona PBS, Dipak Kumar Sinha, DGM of Cumilla PBS-1, Abdul Hakim, AGM of Dhaka PBS-1, Md Salauddin, AGM of Dhaka PBS-2, Md Rahat, DGM of Magura PBS, Md Zakir Hossain, senior GM of Cumilla PBS-4 and Humayun Kabir, DGM of Barisal PBS-1.
