Irrigation pump transformer theft shows no sign of stopping in Maheshpur upazila, Jhenaidah, with approximately 100 transformers stolen over the past five years and farmers bearing the financial burden.
According to the Maheshpur Rural Electrification Board zonal office, farmers have paid approximately one crore taka in replacement costs after each theft, as regulations require customers to cover the cost of stolen equipment.
Deputy General Manager Abhijit Saha said the office files cases after every theft, but to date not a single stolen transformer has been recovered and no suspect has been arrested.
Abdul Kader, an irrigation pump customer from Fatepur village, said his transformer was stolen in 2024, leaving his pump idle. In June, the electricity office issued a notice and collected 1,05,000 taka from him for a replacement.
The most recent theft occurred on June 29, when three 25 KVA transformers were stolen from the irrigation pump serving Sabur Khan’s dragon fruit farm in Ajampur union.
Affected families have appealed to higher authorities for urgent action to stop the thefts. Maheshpur police station OC Mehedi Hasan said a complaint has been filed regarding the latest theft and the matter is under investigation.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report