Bagerhat Correspondent

Rampal 1320- Megawatt Power Plant under Bangladesh-India joint ownership is a touchy and one of the most important establishments of the country.

On January 11, 2010 while Sheikh Hasina, Premier of Bangladesh was visiting India the contract for the construction of the coal based Power Plant at Rampal (in Bagerhat district) was signed in presence of the Premiers of the two countries. This establishment is one of the symbols of the two friendly countries.

In order to develop the country economically the requirement of electricity is unbounded and Rampal Power Plant is playing a very important role which cannot be measured in producing the electricity. The Power Plant is situated on the bank of the river Pashur on 1 (one) thousand 8 hundred 34 acres of lands (under Rampal Upazila in Bagerhat district) but unfortunately more than one hundred thefts were committed in this important Power Plant and more than one hundred thieves and miscreants were arrested along with booties in the hands of the different law enforcing agencies during the last 3 years alone.

In spite of that the incident of theft cases are on the increase. At the night of April 03 (Wednesday), 2024 an armed gang of miscreants, 50/60, in number, attacked the Power Plant in order to commit a dacoity and for other intensions. Such an attack upon the Power Plant is an unprecedented incident in the history of the Power Plant. Basically the Power Plant was established on the vast area which is practically insecure and consequently, such incidents are being happened almost regularly is opined by the well informed circle.

Previously miscreants and thieves who were arrested by the security guards of the Power Plant, RAB, Police, Ansar and other law enforcing agencies were only 5/10, in number. But the incident taken place at the Power Plant at the night of April 03 is quite different.

At that night more than 50 armed miscreants attacked the Power Plant not only to commit theft or dacoity but also to materialize their evil motives. Fallowing the matter the well informed circle expressed their great anxieties.

It is learnt from an authentic source that some 305 persons are now discharging their duties as the security guards of the Power Plant. Out of them 50 are members of Ansar Battalions, 18 police members and 237 persons belonging to two private security services. It is allegedly reported that there is no adjustment among them. But Habibur Rahman, Secretary of the Electricity Department told, there is no lacking of tight security of Rampal Power Plant and the security guards of the same (Power Plant) are well skilled and combination and that is why they were able to tackle the situation happened at the night of 3rd April, 2024 at the Power Plant. Otherwise, we cannot imagine what might be happened at the night.

The main Power Plant is encircled with strong concrete walls. But the vast areas outside of the Power Plant are surrounded with only barbed wires.

The Power Plant is situated on the bank of the river Pashur almost in between the 2 districts of Bagerhat and Khulna and those areas are full of long reeds, spices of tall grass with full of white flowers and other bushes. Virtually these vast areas are left abandoned for long accompanied with big and small drums of copper and other coils, iron rods, containers, boxes of machinery goods etc.

It is also learnt that coals were also stolen from the well protected areas of the Power Plant. So, allegation was raised against the negligence of duty. Some ones conceive that there may be a virus in the antidote and that is why theft is committed in the Power Plant almost regularly.

On the other hand, those who are in-charge of the security have no fire arms in order to face the armed miscreants. They are allowed to use only the lethal weapons.

There are only five watch towers in the vast areas of the Power Plant. The number of the watch towers is quite insufficient while at the night only 02 unarmed security guards watch over the area from each of the towers. Security guards complained, almost every night thieves appear there and do not return in empty hands. The areas are covered with dense and long straw type grasses and for want of insufficient lighting nothing can be seen clearly. Thieves are always equipped with arms. But we are unnamed. At the night of 3rd April when the miscreants (about 60 in number) attacked the Power Plant we were able to resist them. In spite of that the miscreants looted various iron materials of the Power Plant weighing about one metric ton.

After the armed attack on the Power Plant on the 3rd April by the armed miscreants Mohammad Khalid Hossain, DC, Bagerhat and Abul Hasnat Khan, Police Super, Bagerhat visited the place of occurrence, talked with the concerned authorities of the Power Plant and the cross section of local people and opined, the main Power Plant is well protected, but the vast area outside of the Power Plant is virtually in secured. They added, the Power Plant is a very touchy but one of very important establishments of the country. So, they suggested some 10 points recommendations for the more safety and security of the Power Plant.

Recommendations are given below in Short:- (1) The Power Plant is situated on the bank of a river and the area is full of jungles. The miscreants can easily reach the area by boats and can attack the area. So, the river side (area) must be cordoned strictly and all the reeds and jungles must be removed from the vast area of the campus immediately. 2. Both used and unused materials like copper coils, aluminum, iron rods and materials and other articles lying hither and thither of the vast areas of the compound should be collected and deposited in a well protected area. 3. There is no lighting system in the vast areas outside of the Power Plant. So, all the areas should be brought under lightings. 4. Number of watch towers should be increased. 5. The number of security guards, particularly those who are discharging their patrol duties at the night should be increased and equipped with torch lights, whistle flute and lethal weapons.

In case of emergency they should be allowed to carry fire arms. 6. Rampal Power Plant is a very touchy and one of the important establishments of the country. So, in order to maintain its full time and tight security a powerful and permanent police camp/outpost should be established there immediately. 7. There should be a security alarm which can alarm the all concerned at the time of emergency. 8. In order to maintain the more security the number of Ansar Battalion should be increased. 9.

The total area of the Power Plant should be brought under CC TV cameras as early as possible. 10. As the Power Plant is situated on the bank of the river Pashur the coast guards can keep the Power Plant under surveillance through regular patrolling in the river Pashur.