The government has formed a national committee to reevaluate the roles and structures of Rural Electrification Board (REB) and its subordinate body Palli Biduyt Samity (PBS) against the backdrop of their wider coverage in electrification across the country.

BRAC University Vice Chancellor Professor Syed Farhat Anwar has been made the head of the committee. Its members are Professor AK Enamul Haque of Asian Centre for Development, Professor Md Ziaur Rahman Khan of EEE Department of BUET, Professor Mohammad Mahbub Rahman of BRAC University, Professor Khaled Mahmud of IBA of Dhaka University, said a press release of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources on Thursday.

It may be mentioned that a section of staff of the PBS have been launching a movement to remove the discrepancies in their jobs and relation with the REB.

In recent times, nearly 100 percent of the electricity network has been extended across the entire country, including rural areas, the ministry said.

REB and PBS have played a leading role in this regard.

In this context, realising the need to reevaluate the role and structure of REB and PBS, the National Committee has been formed.

The committee's terms of reference include reviewing the foundation documents of REB and PBS; Review the organizational structure of REB and PBS; interviewing representatives of REB and PBS staff at all levels and representatives of any concerned individuals or organisations and reviewing relevant documents and files of REB and PBS.

REB and PBS will provide all their documents at the Committee's request.

On the basis of review and interviews, the committee will recommend the appropriate framework for a competitive, technically efficient, financially sustainable and efficient rural electrification sector capable of providing efficient services.

The committee can coopt any member, if necessary, said the ministry.