Frequent Power Outages

Angry protests in 3 dists

5 October 2009, 17:00 PM

Star National Desk

People in three districts in the last one week staged angry protests against frequent power outages. Hundreds of agitated people including farmers of Birganj upazila of Dinajpur yesterday blocked highway for four hours demanding smooth power supply, reports our correspondent. The villagers of different unions of the upazila brought out processions in the morning and gathered at Old Shahid Minar point of Dinajpur-Thakurgaon highway in front of Birganj police station. They blocked the highway demanding uninterrupted power supply for residents and irrigation. During the blockade, hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on the highway for over four hours. When Birganj UNO assured the agitating villagers of holding talks with the officials immediately to resolve the issue, they withdrew the blockade at about 3:30 pm. According to our Gaibandha correspondent: Hundreds of men and women in Gobindagnaj upazila headquarters brought out a broom procession on Wednesday night protesting frequent power outages. They paraded the main streets and blocked Gobindaganj-Dianjpur highway for three hours causing serious traffic jam. The processionists also burned tires on the highway and formed a one-kilometre-long human chain. Power interruption has become a regular feature in Gobindaganj upazila, locals alleged. Our Netrakona correspondent adds: Angry residents of Mohonganj municipal area on Wednesday night besieged the local power office demanding smooth supply of electricity. Police and locals said at about 8pm, over a thousand people including students and teachers of different educational institutes brought out a procession demanding power supply. They besieged the Palli Biddyut Office of Mohonganj and vandalised it. Police rushed to the spot and charged baton injuring at least 15 processionists. Locals alleged that for the last one month they are getting electricity for only 2 to 3 hours in every 24 hours.