Owners forced to buy back stolen electricity meters from thieves in Naogaon

As many as 25 electricity meters were stolen from Naogaon's Raninagar upazila in the past three months, all of which were returned after the thieves were paid.

After stealing the meters, thieving gangs leave a note where a bKash [mobile financial service] account number is provided, said sources from the upazila Palli Bidyut Samity office.

They ask for Tk3,000-10,000 for each meter which is worth about Tk14,000-18,000; especially metres for irrigation pumps are stolen, the office sources added.

Shafiqul Islam, a owner of one of such meters, on Saturday said: "My metre was stolen just a few days back. If our metres get stolen like this, we have to suffer a huge loss."

Saydee Shobuj Khan, assistant general manager of upazila Palli Bidyut Samity, said: "We filed  a general diary after four metres were stolen in a single night. However, we have not been seeing any efforts from police to catch the thieves. Can they not track the bKash numbers thieves are using and find their syndicate?"

Johurul Haque, Officer-in-Charge of Raninagar police station, said: "We are trying to bring the thieves to book as soon as possible. Palli Bidyut office should also try to raise awareness, so that owners and locals remain more vigilant."