Internet shutdown puts pre-paid electricity, gas consumers in trouble

Electricity and gas consumers, who use pre-paid cards, have been facing difficulty recharging their cards, as the country has been experiencing internet shutdown since Thursday night amid the countrywide unrest over quota issue, reports UNB.
According to consumers of different areas, for the pre-paid services, they largely depend on app-based mobile financial services (MFS), including bKash, Nagad, mKash, Upay, Rocket and other digital wallets. But due to complete internet shutdown, these payment systems are not working.
All the utilities in power and energy sector use the MFS to receive their both pre-paid and post-paid bills. They include Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), Dhaka Electric Supply Company (Desco), Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC), Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB), West Zone Power Distribution Company (WZPDC) and Northern Electricity Supply Company (Nesco).
Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company and other gas distribution companies also use the MFS.
In such a situation, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources in short text message has informed the BPDB's customers that they can recharge pre-paid meters through USSD short code line GP*777#, bKash *247#, Nagad*167#, Upay*268#.
However, the ministry did not say anything about other utilities companies in power and energy sector.
Meanwhile, a senior executive of LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) said that due to the complete blockade, the transportation of LPG across the country has been slightly disrupted.
"Our company supplies about 1000 metric tons (MT) of LPG across the country per day. But due to the blockade now, we could supply 600-700 MT of LPG," he told UNB.