Leaders of the anti-discrimination movement Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS) have vowed to postpone their ultimatum to impose a “complete shutdown” across the country, following calls from the government to discuss their demands.

“The government contacted the Palli Bidyut Samity protesters and asked them to discuss their demands with government officials. They promised to suspend the movement for the time being. They want to sit down with the government. We also promised to sit with them and resolve the issue,” Mahfuj Alam, Special Assistant to Senior Advisor Muhammad Yunus, told the media during a press briefing this afternoon (October 17).

Earlier in the day, several protest coordinators including PBS Deputy Director General Rajan Kumar Das, Deputy Director General Asaduzzaman Bhuiyan and others were arrested across the country.

The protesters then met Mahfuj over the issue, said AGM Abdul Hakim, another coordinator of the protest.

“PBSi leaders and employees suspended the protest until Sunday as the CA Special Assistant promised that the detained officials would be released and the issues raised by the PBS protesters would be resolved,” he said. declared.

“The special assistant to the CA asked for time to discuss our demands. We decided to suspend the protest as he promised to withdraw the case and release the detainees without any harassment,” he told media .

PBS workers had earlier issued a 12-hour ultimatum to meet their demands, including the removal of the chairman of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB); the reinstatement of 20 PBS officials who were dismissed yesterday (October 16) and today and others who were transferred today; the withdrawal of false charges against movement coordinators and protesters, and the satisfaction of their two long-standing initial demands.

If a circular addressing their demands is not issued on time, 45,000 managers and employees of 80 PBS will be subjected to a complete nationwide shutdown and a long march to Dhaka, a statement said.

The PBS also cut off connections with 30 districts, leading to misfortunes for 1.20 crore people.

Criticizing PBS protesters at an event today, the BNP deputy general secretary said the “ghost of dictatorship” was very present in rural electricity.

“Here in the rural power authorities, in the last 15 years, all third and fourth class employees of the Awami League, Jubo League and Sramik League have been selected. They participate in a new conspiracy. Why are the power plants shut down one after the other, why are the people involved not arrested?