Corrupt power sector

A timely and interesting editorial on the subject (Oct:6) focuses on the load- shedding phenomenon and the associated excuses given fairly realistically on a regular basis. Even the CTG, like the past political government run administration; only makes claims, without relating it to the reality on the ground. On load-shedding any statement from any administration source or authority may be defined as only idle, ideal talks-- nothing more!
Load-shedding during "Iftar and Magrib Namaz" was a fact of life, may be the frequency was lesser. What is more amazing is that often load-shedding occurred during "Sehri and Fajr prayers"! Actually it is the period of minimum demand, and not, repeat not, maximum demand!
This is simply unbelievable and in any manner not sustainable! Possibly, the powers that be did not suffer this load-shedding, hence they may be unaware of it! "Systems loss" has been coined to cover and camouflage both corruption and transmission and distribution losses. Normally, transmission and distribution losses over five to six percent is unimaginable! But in Bangladesh the unimaginable is the reality, and sadly the authorities do not bother or care about it. Therefore the editorial is not wrong in concluding that the relevant supervising authorities are part of this "systems loss" syndicate!
One wonders why the "Crorepati" meter reader is not taken to task by the CTG? Why is not he and his family members jailed for past misdeeds like businessmen and others. Why has property in his or his relatives' names not been confiscated and reported?
The mischief that meter readers can do is because of his accessibility to customers. This is not possible by even mid-ranking engineers. Meter readers can easily bypass the meter, say for two weeks in the month, and reduce the monthly power bill by 100 percent! Such opportunities of easy cash income on monthly basis is not available to even mid-level bosses.
Meter readers and his colleagues (on similar level) can easily slow down the meter for regular monthly consideration. This was very easy with the earlier disc type rotating meters; which are still in use.
However, all said and done; compared to operation and generation personnel the PDB "Distribution wallas" have a field day in milking the easily available "cash cow". However, the meter reader is always at the top of the totem pole, very much like border port customs, VAT and police and associated border guards who "Make hay while the sun shines"!