Kurigram villagers without power for 2 months

Electricity supply system of Kurigram Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS) had been severely affected due to faults in the submarine cable during the flash flood in July this year.

As a result, thousands of residents at nearly 60 char villages along the Brahmaputra river basin under three upazilas of the district have been living without power for over two months.

But surprisingly, authorities at Kurigram-Lalmonirhat Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS) are yet take any visible initiative to fix the damages and restore electricity supply, locals alleged.

Golzar Rahman of Porar Char in Sadar upazila said they have been passing days without power supply for over two months.

"We have been going through extreme troubles as we cannot even charge our mobile phones due to the power cut," Golzar said.

Housewife Aklima Khatun, a resident of Narayanpur Char in Nageshwari upazila said like before they have been using kerosene lamps for the last two months as concerned authorities seem reluctant to restore the power supply.

Nazrul Islam of Shakhahati Char in Chilmari upazila said thought the faults occurred in the first week of July, Kurigram PBS have not taken any necessary measures fix the trouble till today.

Nabiul Islam, a college student from the same area, said alongside his studies, he used to do some online freelancing works.

But due to the power cut for the last couple of weeks, he has been deprived of doing the freelancing job and earn some money, he added.

Mahitul Islam, general manager at Kurigram-Lalmonirhat PBS, said the submarine cable suffered some damages at several points due to river erosion, triggered by the recent flood.

They have identified the fault and currently working on it to restore electricity supply in all the villages, he said, adding that the problem will be resolved soon.