DHAKA: The power division of the government of Bangladesh has decided to snap electricity supply to 70 camps for stranded Pakistanis in 13 districts if the food ministry fails to settle outstanding bills of 442 million takas by May 15.

“The power connections to the camps will be snapped on May 16 if the outstanding bills are not paid by May 15,” wrote the power secretary, Nazrul Islam, in a letter to the food ministry on Thursday.

“As of Dec 2004, the ministry, which has been bearing the cost of food, water and electricity for around three lakh stranded Pakistanis in the camps for the past 33 years, defaulted on payment of Tk 44.28 crore to the Dhaka Electric Supply Authority, the Dhaka Electric Supply Company and the Power Development Board,” the letter says.

Food Minister Chowdhury Kamal said on Thursday he would soon hold discussions with the power division soon. “Then we will request the finance division to allocate the amount of outstanding bills which would be fixed after discussion.”