Narayanganj protesters end hunger strike following lawmaker’s pledge to address prepaid electricity meter grievances in parliament

NARAYANGANJ — Activists from the Nagorik Odhikar Forum staged a mass hunger strike in Narayanganj on Tuesday to demand the cancellation of prepaid electricity meter installations, the withdrawal of excessive billing, and the restoration of previous digital meters.

The protest, held in front of the Narayanganj Press Club from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., concluded after local lawmaker Abul Kalam, representing the Narayanganj-5 constituency, arrived at the site and pledged to raise the issue in the national parliament.

Mahabubur Rahman Ismail, convener of the Nagorik Odhikar Forum, characterized the prepaid metering system as a burden on consumers. He alleged that the government is attempting to offset losses from alleged corruption within the power sector by imposing higher costs on the public. According to organizers, the current billing slabs for prepaid meters result in charges two to five times higher than previous rates.

The organization’s chief advisor, Mahabubur Rahman Masum, stated that the residents of Narayanganj stand in solidarity against the initiative. He warned that any further attempts to install these meters in local neighborhoods would be met with direct resistance, describing the rollout as a conspiracy against the public interest.

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Speakers at the demonstration demanded that the authorities reinstall the original digital meters for those who have already had them replaced. They warned that if the prepaid meter program is not formally abandoned, the movement will escalate into more rigorous forms of agitation.

This protest follows a similar demonstration held on August 11 at the Narayanganj Central Shaheed Minar, where the group organized a rally and a procession. During that event, leaders had threatened to call for a general strike if the installation of the meters was not halted.

Addressing the demonstrators, Member of Parliament Abul Kalam expressed his personal support for the cause, noting that he is also a resident affected by the current billing system. While acknowledging that the implementation of prepaid meters is a government policy decision, he assured the protesters that he would present their grievances to the cabinet and during the current session of the Jatiya Sangsad. Following his intervention and assurance, the protesters ended their hunger strike.