All officials and employees of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) at all levels observed a sit-in strike by closing the main gate.
On Tuesday (August 20), the commission's office was closed as the chairman and 3 members did not come to the office.
The commission has been on strike since August 18 demanding the resignation of the chairman and members. Car drivers and office assistants of the chairman and members also joined the movement. Motorists have stopped driving since August 19. On August 19, the chairman and members of the commission went to office under their own management, but they were not seen in their office on August 20.
Commission Chairman Nurul Amin and members Dr. Muhammad Yamin Chowdhury, Abul Khair Md. Aminur Rahman and Dr. Md. Helal Uddin is adamant to remain in office. On the other hand, the officials and employees of the commission appeared in the office but refrained from the activities. They are adamant on 4 point demands including resignation of the commission.
Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Nurul Alam (August 19) told Barta24.com that BERC is a constitutional institution. The chairman and members of the commission enjoy the status of judges. The procedure to be followed for the removal of judges is the same here. We cannot exclude them if we want to. But if they resign that is a different matter.
The officers of the commission submitted a memorandum to the Chief Adviser on August 14. It highlighted various irregularities and inconsistencies of the commission. On August 13, the ultimatum of the resignation of the chairman and members of the Joint Commission was given to the officers-employees.
There was long-standing dissatisfaction among the BERC officials on some issues. Since the beginning of the commission, honorarium and energy allowance were given, but the current commission came and stopped it in 2023.
Officials have claimed that the current commission is known to be subservient to the Awami League government. Their appointment was not legal. Commission rules were not followed in the matter of appointment. While following all the unethical instructions of the Awami League government, the commission has belittled the people. All orders are given on behalf of the organization as requested by the government. The interests of the consumers have been severely damaged.
Regarding the resignation demand, BERC member (electricity) Abul Khair Md Aminur Rahman told Barta24.com on August 14, if they want my resignation, the authorities will look into the matter. I don't want to say anything about it.
In 2003, the Energy Regulatory Commission was constituted by legislation as a neutral and quasi-judicial autonomous body. BERC was originally launched in 2009 to ensure accountability and consumer rights of gas and electricity distribution companies. So far 13 regulations have been formulated. Another 12 regulations have been pending approval for more than a decade. BERC was only fixing the prices of gas and electricity as the regulations giving jurisdiction to fix the prices of all types of fuel were pending.
In 2023, the law was suddenly amended to include provisions for price adjustments (lower/higher) by executive orders. Since then, the quasi-judicial body has been effectively rendered useless by the decision to fix gas and electricity prices by executive order. Now it is clinically dead. As BERC finalizes the rates through public hearings, various inconsistencies of the utilities come to the fore. This created a kind of pressure on them, which was becoming a culture day by day. The Awami League government has strangled that process.
Former secretary Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan took oath as the adviser on power, energy and mineral resources of the interim government on August 16. He attended first office on August 18 first office in the Power division. He told the reporters that for the time being, the price of electricity and gas will not be determined by the executive order. If the price needs to be adjusted, it will be sent to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission which was one of the demands of BERC officials.