Empowering Communities Sustainable Progress Innovation

Summit Power International is transforming Bangladesh's infrastructure with innovative solutions across sectors. Backed by global partnerships and foreign investments, we set new standards in development. At Summit, we empower communities and build a stronger, more prosperous future.

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The power sector in Bangladesh is currently navigating through a turbulent phase, stirred by an unprecedented movement of employees involved in rural electrification. Their ongoing protests and sit-ins have sparked national debate, drawing attention to both the legitimacy and practicality of their demands. Central to this debate is a bold proposal — merging the Palli Bidyut Samities (PBSs) with the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB). This structural shift, if enacted, would effectively turn cooperative PBS employees into government staff. But the key question remains: are employees ready to forego higher cooperative benefits in exchange for the status and perceived security of government jobs?

The protest leaders argue that their fight is not rooted in monetary gain but in the pursuit of professional dignity. Yet, skepticism persists about whether this sentiment is universally shared across the protesting workforce. While several demands in the protesters' seven-point charter — such as withdrawing legal cases and the PBS-BREB merger — remain unaddressed, authorities claim that other concerns have already been or are being actively resolved.

Despite these efforts, dissatisfaction continues to brew. At the heart of the unrest are unresolved issues surrounding employee job grading, undefined hierarchies, and a fractured relationship between BREB and PBSs. The apparent failure of REB to exert effective, collaborative leadership has further deepened the crisis. Many believe that the current unrest cannot be quelled without serious redressal for employees who lost their jobs, were suspended, or faced legal action for participating in protests.