Pabna, July 6 (V7N)- The employees of Pabna Palli Bidyut Samity-1 have been on an indefinite strike since six days ago, demanding equal employment rights, regularization of jobs, and fair job practices from the Rural Electrification Board.
 
However, emergency customer service and normal electricity supply have continued since last Monday (July 1) under this work schedule.
 
Over 500 employees, including officials from the main office, three zonal offices, one sub-zonal office, area offices, and complaint centers of the samity, are participating in this strike, stationed from morning till evening in front of the main office of Pabna Palli Bidyut Samity-1 with banners and festoons.
 
Officials and employees of various departments of the samity have expressed their opinions in this work schedule.
 
AEM IT Samirul Islam of Pabna Palli Bidyut Samity-1 said, "The strike is ongoing to implement the Rural Electrification Board and Palli Bidyut Samity amalgamation along with equal job practices. The work schedule started on Monday (July 1) and will continue until our demands are met."
 
In the protest meeting on Saturday (July 6) morning, speakers said, "Continuous and uninterrupted electricity distribution is very important. However, due to the inefficiency in purchasing low-quality electrical equipment, organizational structural complexity, and policy inconsistency, ordinary consumers are suffering. In addition, employees of the samity are facing various challenges in ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply."
 
It has been learned that about 40,000 employees of nearly 80 Palli Bidyut Samities across the country have been on strike since May 5, initiating emergency electricity service.
 
Although delayed for almost two months, the problem has not been resolved, prompting the employees of Pabna Palli Bidyut Samity-1 to resume the strike as part of the central initiative.
 
Employees and workers of the samity engaged in the protest meeting have stated that this work schedule will continue until our demands are met.
 
However, they assured that emergency customer service and normal electricity supply will remain unaffected.
 
The main spokespersons in the protest assembly were DCEM Ashraful Haque, DCEM (Technical) Suhel Akhtar of the head office, DCEM Kamal Hossain of Dasurio Zone Office, DCEM Mozammel Hossain of Bhanga Zone Office, AEM Alhaj Uddin (ONDM), AEM (HR) Kudrat-e-Ilahi, AEM Monir Hossain of Faridpur Sub-Zonal Office (ONDM), Junior Engineer Hasanuzzaman, Assistant Junior Engineer Nasirul Haque, AEM Isi Mustak Ahmed, Line Technician Aktar Uddin, Lineman Sajedur Rahman (Meter Reader cum Messenger), Line Technician Abu Taleb, and Line Worker Saad Ahmed, among others, along with the employees of Palli Bidyut.
 
Present at the time were AEM (Finance) Sirajul Islam, AEM (ONDM) Israfil Alam Milon, AEM (ONDM) Raufuzzaman, AEM (ENC) Sufia Amir, AEM (ONDM) Hafizur Rahman, among others, of Palli Bidyut's employees and workers.
 
END/SRP/SMA/