Officials and employees of state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) have vowed to resist a government move to turn their organisation into a holding company.

The aggrieved officials and employees of the power sector`s principal entity at a meeting at Bijoy Hall of Biddyut Bhaban in the city on Tuesday made their promise to resist the move.

Sources said the employees’ resentment ensued following the Power Ministry`s order issued on August 4 to the PDB to hand over its manpower, assets and liabilities to the newly created North-West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd (NWZPDC).

The new company will operate as a new distribution company in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions replacing the PDB.

The PDB has been asked to sign a vendor agreement with the NWZPDC by August 31 this year to make the new body fully operational. The government`s original plan is to create a number of distribution companies for different regions through unbundling the PDB. In this case, PDB will operate as a holding company.

Most of the PDB officials and employees have been opposing this vendor agreement sensing that this will ultimately lead to a liquidation of the organisation.

Different employees unions and associations including Bangabandhu Prokowsholi Porishad are opposing the government move.

UNB/RI