Madhabpur, Oct 11 (V7N) – Widespread dissatisfaction has erupted among residents of Andiura Union under Madhabpur upazila in Habiganj district following unusually high electricity bills issued by the Rural Electrification Board for the month of September.
 
According to local sources, around 300 consumers in the area received electricity bills that increased abnormally compared to the previous month. Many reported bills that were four to ten times higher than usual, despite no change in power consumption. This sudden surge has caused confusion and anger among local residents.
 
One affected consumer said, “Last month my bill was 800 taka, but this month it suddenly jumped to 8,000 taka even though I didn’t use any extra electricity. I can’t understand how this happened.”
 
When contacted, Abul Hasan, Assistant General Manager (AGM) of the Madhabpur Rural Electrification Office, admitted that the incident occurred due to negligence by the meter reader. “The meter reader recorded the readings without visiting the sites in person, which led to serious errors in billing. We have already formed an investigation committee, and necessary action will be taken against the responsible individual,” he stated.
 
In response, Md. Shah Alam, Chairman of the Habiganj Rural Electrification Management Board, confirmed the formation of the inquiry committee and attributed the incident to the meter reader’s dereliction of duty. However, he also blamed AGM Abul Hasan for supervisory failure, emphasizing that proper disciplinary measures would be enforced against all responsible parties.
 
Meanwhile, anxiety and frustration continue to grow among consumers in Andiura Union, as many fear further billing discrepancies. Locals have demanded a swift investigation and immediate correction of the inflated bills to prevent similar incidents in the future.
 
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