GAIBANDHA, Sept. 28 -- Electricity consumers and irrigation pump owners staged a demonstration in Gaibandha on Monday afternoon demanding the cancellation of prepaid meters and an end to corruption, phantom billing, and frequent load shedding in the local power department.

Organized by the "Electricity Consumers and Irrigation Pump Owners' Association", the protesters brought out a rally that marched through the main streets of Gaibandha town via Masterpara before terminating at the local power office around 4.00pm.

When power office staff locked the main entrance to block the demonstration, angry protesters broke through the gate, entered the premises, and formed a human chain.

Addressing the rally, speakers demanded the re-installati...