Under the system, the customers will be able to use electricity according to their needs by purchasing cards and will be exempted from paying the minimum charge as they have to pay under the present system.

Around 9,500 consumers of Chittagong Metropolitan area will be brought under the system by the year 2007.

An agreement for launching the pre-paid metering system was signed between Bangladesh Power Development Board and M/S Polymeters Response International Limited, UK and KCJ and Associates Limited, Bangladesh at WAPDA Building in the city yesterday.

BPDB Secretary Talebar Rahman, Arun Agarwal from Polymeters Response International Limited, UK and Executive Director of KCJ and Associates limited Kazi Hasan Zaki signed the agreement.

BPDB Chairman ANH Akhtar Hossain, Project Director TK Chakma and other officials were present at the signing ceremony.

"The pre-paid metering system will reduce harassment of the customers as they won't have to go to bank to pay the bill. At the same time it will diminish system loss and misuse of electricity that would help to reduce pressure on electricity management," said Akhtar Hossain.

Kredit Anstalt Fur Wie Derauf Ban (KFW), a German company will fund Tk 22.25 crore to implement the system.