Call to Eliminate Urban–Rural Disparity in Power Distribution System, Says CAB Leader

CN Desk: Criticizing the proposal to increase electricity prices for small and marginal consumers, SM Nazer Hossain, Vice President of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), has called for the removal of existing disparities in electricity distribution between urban and rural areas.In a statement sent to the media on 02 June 2026, on the occasion of a public hearing organized by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) in Dhaka regarding proposed electricity tariff hikes, he made the remarks.He said that increasing electricity prices by placing an additional burden on small and marginal consumers is not acceptable. According to him, the practice of shifting losses in the power sector onto the general public is a long-standing trend that has continued under both past and present governments.In the statement, he alleged that the situation of electricity supply in rural areas is extremely poor. In many places, electricity is available for only a short period during the day, while prolonged load shedding continues for the rest of the time. He referred to recent field observations in Chakaria, Pekua, Maheshkhali, and Matarbari upazilas in Cox’s Bazar district, stating that the power management system there is in a “severely mismanaged condition.”He further claimed that although the government denied any electricity shortage during the Eid-ul-Adha holiday period, people in various rural districts suffered greatly due to prolonged power outages, while electricity supply remained relatively stable in some cities and divisional headquarters. He highlighted this as a stark urban–rural disparity in power distribution.He attributed the biggest weaknesses in rural electricity management to the structural limitations of the Rural Electrification Board (REB) and Palli Bidyut Samities (PBS). He said that in rural areas, electricity supply is often disrupted by rain, storms, or minor natural calamities, and in many cases it takes days to restore service.He alleged that although REB is responsible for supplying electricity to about 80 percent of the country, its capacity, manpower, and infrastructure remain insufficient. As a result, the benefits of nationwide electrification are not fully reaching rural consumers.The statement also noted that the rural electricity system under REB covers 462 upazilas through 80 Palli Bidyut Samities, with approximately 537,000 kilometers of distribution lines and around 36 million customers. However, due to weak management, inefficiency, and the use of substandard equipment, the rural distribution system remains fragile.SM Nazer Hossain urged the government to eliminate urban–rural disparities in the power sector and ensure infrastructure modernization, improved efficiency, and better management in electricity distribution.