The general manager of Magura Palli Bidyut Samity has been suspended after a customer received a Tk 506.83 crore electricity bill for using just 235 units.
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood expressed strong displeasure and concern over the incident.
Mohammad Mohitul Islam, general manager (GM) of Magura Palli Bidyut Samity, was suspended following allegations of serious negligence in carrying out his official responsibilities.
The bill was issued in the name of Aleya Khatun, a resident of Kechuadubi village under Maghi union in Magura Sadar upazila, for September 2026.
According to the bill, Aleya’s meter reading stood at 395 on 8 September, compared with 160 on 8 August, meaning she had used only 235 units during the month.
Yet the bill showed a total amount of Tk 506 crore 83 lakh 11 thousand 593.
The bill included a staggering Tk 482 crore 69 lakh 63 thousand 422 as a demand charge, along with Tk 24 crore 13 lakh 48 thousand 171 in VAT and a Tk 10 meter rental charge.
Had the bill not been paid within the stipulated period, the amount would have risen to Tk 530 crore 96 lakh 59 thousand 764, including the late-payment surcharge.
In reality, the bill for 235 units was only Tk 1,963, or Tk 2,056 including the late-payment charge.
The incident sparked widespread criticism after the customer and her family were left shocked by the unusually high bill.
Following the incident, Magura Palli Bidyut Samity corrected the bill, and Aleya paid the actual amount. The authorities also apologised to her.
How the error occurred
Mohammad Rezaul Karim, deputy general manager (DGM) of the Arpara zonal office, said the extraordinary bill resulted from an error following the replacement of the customer’s meter.
According to him, digits from the meter’s seal number were mistakenly entered into the demand-charge field during the billing process, resulting in the huge amount.
Mohammad Mohitul Islam had earlier described the incident as a typing error and said administrative action would be taken against those responsible following an investigation.
Four officials, including the DGM of the Arpara zonal office and a billing supervisor, were served show-cause notices in connection with the incident.
The incident drew strong criticism from Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, who expressed his deep regret over serious negligence in official duties.
The GM was subsequently temporarily suspended over the incident.
“This was not just a ghost bill; it was absurd,” Aleya Khatun said. “The electricity authorities’ arbitrary actions are increasing consumers’ anxiety and suffering. Such mistakes must be addressed.”
The incident has also raised questions among local residents about how a bill worth hundreds of crores could be generated for a customer who consumed only 235 units, and why the error was not detected at different stages of the billing process.
