Twenty-four government electricity meters were installed across 24 Bihari camps in Syedpur, Nilphamari, but no bills have been paid for the past 11 years. Each month, electricity worth about Tk 5 million is consumed, and by February 2026, the total unpaid amount reached Tk 660 million. Field visits revealed that many residents also use direct connections from power lines without meters, keeping fans running continuously to avoid fire or disconnection risks.
Residents said they pay small amounts monthly but are unsure whether the money reaches the electricity office, as they cannot obtain meters in their own names. The Syedpur Camp Development Committee stated that they do not seek free electricity but want proper rehabilitation and the right to pay bills formally. A human rights activist attributed the problem to poor planning and the camps’ exclusion from formal urban infrastructure, which causes revenue losses and safety hazards.
According to the local NESCO official, the government installed one meter per camp and repeatedly requested the Disaster Management Ministry to clear dues. The ministry agreed to pay bills only up to 2016, citing that residents are now Bangladeshi citizens and responsible for their own payments.
উপজেলা প্রতিনিধি, সৈয়দপুর (নীলফামারী) প্রকাশ : ২৭ এপ্রিল ২০২৬, ১২: ৩৩আপডেট : ২৭ এপ্রিল ২০২৬, ১২: ৪৬ নীলফামারীর সৈয়দপুরের ২৪ বিহারি ক্যাম্পে ২৪টি সরকারি বিদ্যুতের মিটার স্থাপন করা হয়েছে। ১১ বছর ধরে এসব মিটারের বিল পরিশোধ করা হচ্ছে না। প্রতি মাসে ব্যবহ
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