Shutdown, rally demanding smooth power supply

Traders and locals, led by Shilpa-O-Bonik Samity, bring out a procession in Gopalpur upazila town of Tangail yesterday, demanding smooth electricity supply to shops and houses. PHOTO: STAR

Traders and teachers and students of all educational institutions in Gopalpur upazila town yesterday observed a seven-hour strike, demanding smooth electricity supply to the area.
To press the demand, shop owners kept their shutters down for seven hours from 7:00am while all educational institutions remained closed during the period.
Gopalpur Shilpa-O-Bonik Samity (traders' association) took out a procession in the upazila town at around 11:00am. Local people, traders and teachers and students joined the procession. After parading the main street, they held a rally at local bus stand.
President of the samity Roushan Khan Ayub, former general secretary of upazila Awami League Rakibul Haque, general secretary of the upazila unit of Secondary Teachers' Association Shafiqul Islam and Upazila Parishad Chairman Yunus Ali Talukder addressed the rally.
The speakers said power outages hamper people's normal activities in the municipality area as they get electricity only three to four hours a day. They demanded that the authorities concerned ensure power supply in the area for at least 10 hours.
They also threatened to launch a tougher agitation programme if their demand was not met immediately. Later, the agitators submitted a memorandum to Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tanzila Islam.
Our Comilla correspondent adds: Student of Manikkarchar Degree College yesterday besieged the local office of Comilla Palli Bidyut Samity (CPBS)-1 in Manikkarchar area under Megna upazila, protesting frequent load shedding.
Police said the agitating students besieged the power office for three hours from 12.00noon.