Transformers Disappearing During Load Shedding, Customers Forced to Pay Fines Instead!

❐ Local correspondent

Taking advantage of frequent load shedding in the Matlab Uttar Upazila of Chandpur, an organized gang of transformer thieves has become reckless. This expensive equipment is disappearing from electric poles as soon as darkness falls. At least 28 transformer thefts have occurred in the upazila in the last three months, of which 25 have been stolen in the last one and a half months.

According to sources from the Rural Electricity Association, the estimated market value of the 28 lost transformers is around 50 lakh taka. Due to the sudden theft of transformers one after another, on the one hand, the power supply is being severely disrupted, and on the other hand, ordinary consumers are facing financial losses due to the encirclement of the rules.

Local residents said that thieves are targeting electric poles located on deserted roads or near crop fields to steal. No time of day or night is safe. Thieves are taking advantage of the frequent power outages during load shedding to easily remove transformers from poles.

According to the rural electricity rules, if a transformer is stolen in an area, the customer concerned has to bear half the cost for connecting a new transformer. And if it is stolen a second time in the same place, the customer has to pay the full amount.

Public life is already suffering due to load shedding, and lower and middle class consumers are left disoriented as they have to pay thousands of taka in fines or money to install new transformers.

Several local students and victims said that their studies are being disrupted due to the long period of power outage after the transformer was stolen, and they are forced to raise money to bring a new transformer and restore the electricity connection.

Several cases have already been filed at Matlab Uttar Police Station regarding the theft of transformers. Police have intensified patrols to identify the gang of thieves, law enforcement officials said.

Matlab (North) Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Kamrul Hasan said that area-based surveillance has been increased through beat officers. They are trying to find out where these stolen parts are being sold and who is behind it.

Wahiduzzaman, deputy general manager of Chandpur Palli Bidyut Samity-2, also said that police activity has been increased. He is hopeful that the gang of thieves will be caught soon.

The local people have already arrested a few suspects in several theft cases and handed them over to the police. The affected locals have demanded that the entire gang be brought under the law as soon as possible and that they be freed from this suffering.