Officers and employees of the Rural Electrification Board (REB) and Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS) announced on Saturday (September 6) that they will begin an indefinite strike starting Sunday to press for a four-point demand.

The announcement came at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity, where Anju Rani Malakar, Assistant Office Secretary of the Palli Bidyut Association, spoke on behalf of the officials-employees.

She said repeated assurances from the government, including the formation of committees to resolve the crisis, have led to no action from the Power Ministry. Instead, authorities have punished workers involved in the movement through dismissals, transfers, and suspensions, fueling anger among employees.

She demanded reinstatement of those dismissed or suspended “unjustly” and administrative and legal action against allegedly corrupt REB officials.

The four demands are:

1. Issue a gazette notification to merge REB and PBS or convert them into companies like other power distributors; regularize all contract and irregular employees, including meter readers, line workers, and billing assistants; withdraw cases; reinstate dismissed workers; and implement the recommendations of the Power Division’s committee on transfers and postings.


2. Cancel all dismissal orders issued since August 17, 2025, and reinstate dismissed, suspended, or detached workers to their previous positions.


3. Set working hours for emergency line crews and reinstate five line workers who could not join duties during the recent sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar.


4. Take disciplinary and legal action against allegedly corrupt REB officials-employees.