The Palli Bidyut (rural electricity) office has cut the power connection of a poultry farmer in Chandanpat union of Rangpur Sadar upazila over an alleged unpaid electricity bill. It is claimed that 600 chickens on the farm died because they could not bear the heat.

The farmer, Hasanur Rahman, 22, is said to have lost about Tk 2 lakh. He has filed a complaint with the police and also claims he owes no electricity bill.

According to the complaint, Hasanur set up a broiler farm at Kazipara in Chandanpat union. In February he took a new connection after paying Tk 7,200 in outstanding electricity bills, and started the farm.

On the afternoon of 7 April (Thursday), staff from the Palli Bidyut office came and cut the connection, alleging a Tk 24,000 unpaid bill. The complaint says Hasanur was not at home and the connection was cut without informing him. He returned home in the evening to find the power cut. On Friday morning he woke to find that 600 chickens on the farm had died of the heat, and he filed a complaint with the police that afternoon.

Hasanur Rahman said: "I have no unpaid electricity bill. I paid all the previous dues, took a new connection and set up the farm. But the electricity office cut the connection without informing me. I have lost about Tk 2 lakh. Now I am on the verge of ruin."

Asked about it, Harun Or Rashid, general manager of Rangpur Palli Bidyut Samity-2, said the claim that no bill was outstanding was not true. The ledger book shows Tk 24,000 owed by him. The connection was cut on the head office's instructions because his name was on the hit list.

Confirming that a complaint had been received, Mostafizar Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sadar Kotwali police station, said the matter was being investigated.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.