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Bamboo as electricity poles!

KONGKON KaRMAKER, from Rangpur
Residents of Pirjabad in Rangpur town are under serious risk of getting electrocuted as several hundred houses in the area have been using electricity by drawing power lines with the help of bamboo poles.
Hundreds of such poles have been set up along the roads. In some places, the wires have not only fallen on the ground, the poles are also slanting precariously.
During a recent visit to the area, which falls under Rangpur City Corporation, many residents told this correspondent that the haphazard and makeshift arrangement could cause a serious accident, but the Power Development Board (PDB) officials remain indifferent in this regard.
This has been going on for years, they said, adding that they have also provided money as per the requirement to ensure utility services. Residents said they are using meters and paying bills regularly.
However, some "power line workers" claiming to be staffers of PDB also collect money from them every month for using electricity through the bamboo poles, locals claimed. They said those staffers had
set up the poles.
Moniruzzaman Monir, a resident, said, "At first, we thought this will be a temporary arrangement until concrete poles are set up. But years went by, things remained the same. Bamboo poles carrying bare electric wires may fall to the ground even in a moderate wind," he said.
Besides, he alleged, "Last year, each of us gave those collectors Tk 6,000 for installing each concrete pillar."
Another resident, Mokhlesur Rahman, demanded removal of bare wires from bamboo poles for safety of locals, especially children. He claimed that the PDB officials are well aware of the situation, but they are not taking necessary steps.
With fallen wires on the roads, it has become dangerous to move around at night, said Golam Mostafa, a rickshaw-van puller.Pirjabad Councillor Shaheda Begum Baby said, PDB officials apparently do not care about how risky the situation is." She also alleged that some PDB staffers had set up the connections before installing concrete poles and they visit the area every month to "collect fees".
"We have informed the matter to the officials numerous times but to no avail," she said, adding that not so long ago, a man got electrocuted after he came in contact with a live electric wire.
Contacted, Shariful Islam, executive engineer of Northern Electricity Supply Company (Nesco) in Rangpur, said it is illegal to use bamboo poles for drawing power lines. Nesco is a part of PDB, which oversees sales, distributions and bill collections.
Shariful said he was unaware of the situation in Pirjabad area. "We will look into it and take steps accordingly."
The executive engineer was also unaware of the power line workers.
He said, "Installing concrete poles is a continuous process... it is usually done by a third-party on contractual basis. I will look into the allegations."
This correspondent tried to get in touch with them, which turned out to be a strenuous task. None of the residents or PDB employees apparently knew anything about them nor had their contact information.