It is not an accident, it is total negligence and irresponsibility, said Energy, Power and Mineral Resources Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan on the recent incident of electrocution during line repair work power supply which left one dead and two others seriously injured.

Questioning why power supply was restored while repair work was underway, he said strict action would be taken against anyone involved.

He added that the Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) and the subcontractor cannot evade their responsibility in this incident, according to a press release issued today (October 25) by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.

Earlier, Fouzul visited the Maniknagar area where the incident took place and gave instructions to quickly find out the cause of the accident.

He also visited the two injured people at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital and asked the hospital authorities to make all possible efforts for their proper treatment. He also asked the DPDC to appoint someone to supervise affairs at the hospital.

Addressing the families of the victims, the advisor said the caretaker government would provide them with all possible support. He ordered immediate payment of Tk 5 lakh to the family of the deceased, Tk 2 lakh to the seriously injured and Tk 1 lakh to the injured.

He added that the government would also bear all expenses related to the treatment of the two injured people.

On October 21, an electrician was killed and two others injured by electrocution while changing the high-voltage cable, used to transmit high-voltage power, in the capital’s Maniknagar district.

The deceased was identified as Nabir Hossain, a line worker (foreman). The injured are Masum Mia and Rabiul Islam.

Nabir was working at Moon Power Engineering, an annual contractor of DPDC Maniknagar unit.