That the public often encounters harassment in government offices to obtain utility services is hardly a new phenomenon, but rarely do details come out in public. A recent public hearing by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) at Chittagong Power Development Board (PDB) headquarters was such a rare occasion for people to speak out.

The hearing reflects the frustration and helplessness of ordinary people due to the corruption, irregularities, poor quality of service and harassment at certain government offices. One victim, for example, complained that when he queried about why his electricity bill had far more units than the actual reading the metre at his residence showed, the local metre reader asked him to "jump off the roof of a high-rise."

There have been numerous reports on how electricity bills of many users contain exaggerated figures and units than those that the metre actually shows. The authorities have done little to address this issue. The testimonies of the clients at the public hearing should prompt efforts to improve quality of service at the public utility service provider. PDB should adopt better technologies that will automatically and precisely prepare the electricity bill.

We also hope that the ACC commissioner instructs his officers to investigate the allegations of corruption that the public made at the hearing.

It is high time the commission took stern punitive actions against corrupt public officials. This would not only help curb corruption in the public sector but also contribute to improving the quality of service at government offices.