Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 731 Sun. June 18, 2006  
   
National


Soccer fans torch power station in Sylhet
REB offices attacked in Bagerhat, Jessore, Sunamganj


Football fans ransacked power supply offices in Bgerhat and Jessore Friday evening as they could not enjoy the Argentine-Serbia match on TV due to power outage.

Angry football fans attacked Kachua upazila Rural Electrification Board (REB) office in Bagerhat, damaging doors and windows, our staff correspondent reported from Khulna.

The situation was brought under by Kachua Upazila Nirbahi Officer with the help of police.

The same power supply office came under attack on June 13 also as supporters of Brazil could not watch its match due to loadshedding.

The Kachua UNO held a meeting on June 14 with REB officials and then assured the people of uninterrupted power supply during World Cup matches.

As the promise was not kept, football fans attacked the power supply office for the second time, said the Officer-in-Charge of Kachua police station.

Our Jessore Correspondent reported that soccer fans on Friday night burned a pick-up van of REB P at Jhikargachha, demanding uninterrupted power supply during World Cup football matches.

There was no electricity at Jhekargachha from Friday afternoon. When the Argentina-Serbia match began at 7pm, football fans became furious and attacked the power supply office and the residence of officials.

They pelted stones and torched a pick up van on the office premises.

Two policemen--Ashraf and Pannu --were injured as they tried to cool down the disappointed soccer fans. They were admitted to Jhikargachha Upazila Health Complex.

Power supply however resumed in the area 10 minutes after the incident.

The power supply office in Chaugachha also came under attack due to outage during Friday's World Cup match at 10pm.

In Sylhet, a band of enraged soccer fans took to the street in the city at about 8m after power cutoffs during the match between Agrentina and Serbia Montenegro.

They attacked three power stations in Jail Road, Upashahar and Kadamtali areas, our Staff correspondent reporets.

The stone-throwing mob damaging a number of cars, furniture and assaulted 10 employees at the Jail Road power office, Power Development Board sources says.

The unruly protestors also set fire to Upashahar substation and damaged Kadamtali station.

In Sunamganj, protestors attacked the local power office, ransacked officers’ club and offices of 3rd and 4th class employees.

They also damaged a generator and a card-phone booth in Jagannathpur upazila auditorium. Twenty people, including police, were injured during the melee.