Pabna, Nov 03 (V7N) — Hundreds of residents in Pabna staged a human chain and submitted a memorandum to local authorities on Sunday, demanding the immediate suspension of the ongoing prepaid electricity meter installation program across the district.
 
The demonstration took place around noon in front of Pabna Press Club on Abdul Hamid Road, where participants formed a human chain that lasted for about an hour. Following the protest, the demonstrators brought out a procession and marched toward the office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC), where they formally handed over a memorandum outlining their demands.
 
Speakers at the event included Jahangir Hossain, Senior Joint General Secretary of the Pabna Human Rights Unity Council, former Vice President of the District BNP Taufiq Habib, and former Senior Vice President of the Pabna District Sports Association Mustakim Sabuj, among others.
 
During the protest, the speakers demanded that the government immediately halt the installation of prepaid meters and reinstate the previous postpaid system. They urged the authorities to establish a dedicated monitoring cell to address customer complaints promptly and to ensure that public opinion is considered before implementing any decisions related to electricity billing or metering.
 
Protesters alleged that the prepaid system has caused significant hardship for ordinary consumers, citing unexpected deductions, billing irregularities, and technical malfunctions. They warned that if their demands are not met soon, they will intensify their movement through larger demonstrations across the district.
 
The memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner emphasized that electricity is an essential public service and called for increased accountability and transparency in the billing process to protect consumers from unnecessary financial pressure.
 
Residents in Pabna said they are not against modernization but stressed that such systems must be people-oriented and affordable, rather than burdensome. The district administration has acknowledged receipt of the memorandum and assured that the matter will be reviewed in consultation with higher authorities.
 
The growing dissatisfaction over prepaid meters has echoed similar concerns across several districts in Bangladesh, as consumers continue to report overcharging, disconnections, and lack of proper grievance redress mechanisms.
 
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