Joint forces fine shop owners for violatingpower usage rules

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FE Report
The members of the joint forces recently realised fine worth Tk 385,000 from some shop owners and small businessmen from Rajshahi zone for violating rules in electricity usage.
According to the rules, shop owners and businessmen cannot use electricity for commercial purposes after 7.0pm to save power in the wake of short supply. But many businessmen have been found violating the rules by using the electricity for commercial purposes after the specified time.
The members of the joint forces have snapped the electricity lines and fined the delinquent users, said a press release Thursday.
In April, the government in an order asked the shop owners to keep their establishments open seven days a week until 7.0pm everyday.
The decision to close shops at 7.0pm every day was taken to save power ranging from 70 megawatt (MW) to 80 MW of electricity.
But a section of businessmen alleged that the "shutters-down" order has affected their business adversely and low-income people have suffered income losses.