Bill payment trauma

All ideal citizens become restless when they receive bills against the state-owned utility service entities. As the deadlines for the last days of payment near, they begin getting edgier. The silent torment is caused by the lack of outlets for paying off the bills. The services relate to water, gas and electricity supplies; and land telephone connection.

Of late, payment of monthly bills for power use has been made easier in some areas of the capital. The electricity authorities have installed pre-paid meters at residences in these areas. The step has relieved the people in these parts of the city of the hassles they used to face in paying the power bills at a few selected banks.

Usually at the banking rush hours, it would take a long time, from thirty minutes to even one hour, to have an electricity bill paid. Add to this ordeal the ones linked to the bills against gas, water and telephone. Like with the electricity bill payment, the authorities of these three utilities have a handful of banks and branches picked for receiving the bills.

Due to rush, many cannot clear their bills by the last date of payment. The restlessness thus created for the unsuccessful consumers can only be realised by the sufferers only.

Given the sloppy condition prevailing in the bill payment process, the authorities concerned should raise the number of banks receiving the phone bills sent by BTCL.

On the other hand, they can install pre-paid meters for the services run by the gas distribution entity, the water supply authorities and the power supply agency. The most smooth and hassle-free bill payment process could be putting in place the online bill payment system.

In fact, payment of monthly bills against government utility services has assumed the proportions of a traumatic experience.

Md. Khairul Bashar

Gopibagh, Dhaka