Assurance a no-go, users gather to recharge cards as electricity cut off
The DPDC then called the police to ensure that the customers maintained social distance
Electricity users in Azimpur were seen gathering in front of the Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) office to recharge their prepaid cards after electricity connections to their houses were cut off on Sunday.
However, the subscribers were assured on March 22 by the power division that they would be able to get uninterrupted electricity supply during the ongoing nationwide shutdown imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Adding insult to injury, the DPDC then called the police to ensure that the customers maintained social distance.
"The circular was related to the postpaid subscribers only. It was not applicable to the prepaid users," said Md Nasir Uddin, executive engineer of DPDC Azimpur Customer Service Centre.
"Prepaid users were urged to keep enough balance in their cards ahead of the shutdown and call the recharge providers for home recharge service in case the balance ran out," he added.
However, the circular did not mention anything about prepaid or postpaid users.
Earlier on March 22, the Power Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources issued a circular saying that the subscribers would be able to pay their due electricity bills from February to April without any additional fines for the delay.
The power division came up with the decision considering that most of the users may not be able to pay electricity bills on time as they would not be going outdoors without an emergency.
