N'ganj people demand cancellation of prepaid meters

NARAYANGANJ, Aug 25: The Narayanganj Citizens' Rights Forum held a hunger strike on Tuesday protesting the forced installation of prepaid electricity meters despite objections from consumers and alleged excessive billing.

The programme was held on the Narayanganj Press Club premises from 10am to 1pm.

Among those who spoke at the programme were former president of the Narayanganj Press Club Advocate Mahabubur Rahman Masum, Convener of the Narayanganj Citizens' Rights Forum Advocate Mahbubur Rahman Ismail, Advocate Jahangir Alam Jagu, freedom fighter Ramzanul Rashid, District Shop Owners Association President Md Shahjahan, and leaders of the forum, local panchayat committees, mosque committees and shop owners' associations.

The speakers said if the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) project, involving thousands of crores of taka, initiated during the previous "fascist" government could be scrapped, there was no reason why prepaid meters could not be cancelled.

They said residents in areas where prepaid meters have already been installed are suffering immensely.

"If prepaid meters are forcibly imposed on ordinary consumers, the consequences will not be good," they said, adding that protests against the meters had already begun in different areas.

They demanded the immediate cancellation of prepaid meters.

The speakers warned that if the "anti-people" prepaid meter project initiated by the previous government was not scrapped, the current government would have to take responsibility for any undesirable situation arising in the future.

At around 12:45pm, Narayanganj-5 lawmaker Advocate Abul Kalam expressed solidarity with the protesters and ended the hunger strike by offering them water.

Speaking on the occasion, Abul Kalam said, "I support your demands. I will try to raise the issue in parliament. I hope the matter will be resolved through discussions."