The government has formed a five-member expert committee to review the structure and functions of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) and the Palli Bidyut Samities (PBSs), the country’s largest power distribution network.
The committee, constituted on Tuesday, will be led by Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar, Vice Chancellor of BRAC University.
Other members of the committee include Professor A.K.M. Anamul Huq of the Asian Centre for Development, Professor Dr. Md. Ziaur Rahman Khan of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at BUET, Professor Dr. Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman of BRAC University, and Professor Dr. Khaled Mahmood of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka.
The committee has been tasked with reviewing the organizational structure and conducting a technical analysis of the organograms of BREB and PBSs. It will also assess existing policies and strategies and conduct interviews with officials from both organizations to gather relevant insights.
Power Division Issues Statement on Ongoing Agitation
Amid ongoing agitation by some employees of the rural electricity sector, the Power Division issued a statement expressing concern over attempts to create unrest using the pretext of “rural electricity reform.”
According to the statement, an unregistered group calling itself the “Bangladesh Rural Electricity Association” has circulated a press release, which has drawn the government’s attention. However, the government clarified that the group does not represent any officially recognized entity within the rural electricity framework.
The government emphasized that the agitation is not supported by the dedicated officers and employees of the Rural Electricity Association who are deployed across the country.
To address the situation, the government has taken the following steps:
A five-member expert committee, led by the Vice Chancellor of BRAC University, has been formed to review the role and structure of BREB and PBSs. The committee is expected to present its findings to stakeholders on June 1, 2025, following which the government will decide on further actions.
Another committee, headed by an Additional Secretary of the Power Division, is working on aligning the employment status of BREB staff with that of Rural Electricity Association employees. Relevant instructions are expected next week.
BREB officers and employees have been advised to maintain a cooperative approach in their interactions with their counterparts in the Rural Electricity Association.
Authorities have been instructed to reconsider disciplinary actions taken against Rural Electricity Association employees who were not involved in any subversive activity.
Investigations are ongoing into allegations of corruption in procurement, recruitment, and promotion within BREB. Legal action will be taken if the allegations are substantiated.
Since August 2024, a total of 6,025 employees of the Rural Electricity Association have been regularized, with the process continuing.
Employee transfers remain a routine practice, with workers typically becoming eligible for relocation after serving three years at a post. In a humanitarian gesture, 3,079 employee couples stationed in different locations have recently been transferred to the same workplace.
Cases filed against certain employees of the Rural Power Association are based on specific allegations and are currently under judicial review. The courts will decide the outcomes based on evidence, and the accused may be exonerated through due process.
The government expressed hope that, in view of the actions taken, agitating employees will return to work, act responsibly, and prioritize national interest. It urged them to refrain from unnecessary meetings and gatherings.