Jumbangla Desk: The officers and employees of Palli Vidyut Samiti have closed 26 substations in eight upazilas of Sylhet in protest against the dismissal and filing of lawsuits against some of the agitating officials of Palli Vidyut. At least four and a half million customers are in the dark.

Electricity supply has been stopped in these upazilas under Palli Vidyut Samiti-1 from 4:30 pm on Thursday (October 17). Golapganj, Biyanibazar, Jokiganj, Kanighat, Fenchuganj, Osmaninagar, Balaganj and Dakshinsurma upazilas of Sylhet have been completely shut down till the writing of this report at 6:30 pm.

In five more upazilas under Palli Vidyut Samiti-2, there is no shutdown but there are power cuts in various areas. The authorities say that a meeting is going on with the aggrieved officers and employees to normalize the situation.

Senior General Manager of Sylhet Palli Vidyut Samiti-1. Aktaruzzaman Lashkar said that on Wednesday some of the officials who led the movement were dismissed from their jobs and some of them were accused in the case. Since then, officials and employees were protesting in Sylhet as well. He was consoling his office staff from Thursday morning. But by 4:30 pm, 22 of the 26 substations under its jurisdiction have been shut down.

He said that the matter is being contacted with the authorities including the district administration. The protesting officers and employees are also being talked to. Trying to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, although the substations of Sylhet Palli Vidyut Samiti-2 have not been shut down, the customers have reported load shedding since Thursday morning. There are eight substations under Sylhet Palli Vidyut Samiti-II. Five upazilas are supplied with electricity from these.

Sanjeev Kumar Roy, general manager of Sylhet Palli Vidyut Samiti-2, could not be contacted by phone.