Photo : Messenger
A dire situation has unfolded in the haor region of Sunamganj, as a significant number of electric poles have turned into a perilous menace for the local population. The indiscriminate placement of electrical infrastructure, including power cables, poses a constant threat to the people of the haor. Pedestrians, fishermen, farmers, and even tourists have fallen victim to fatal electric cable accidents.
Despite the Awami government's endeavor to bring electricity to households across the haor, this initiative has taken a dangerous turn, devoid of expert counsel.
The locality of Sunamganj, adorned with haors, hilly terrains, and a labyrinth of rivers, stands as a testament to natural beauty. Notably, the district boasts attractions like Tanguar haor, Shanir haor, Matian Haor, Dekhar haor, Halir haor, Karcha haor, Pakna haor, Dhala Pakna haor, Angarkhali haor, all garnering acclaim as tourist hubs. Despite its marginal status, this district has metamorphosed into a tourist haven, largely thanks to the haor's unique charm.
The lives of the haor's inhabitants revolve around a seasonal cycle: fishing during the monsoon months and agriculture during the rest of the year. However, the existence of these hardworking haor dwellers is marred by a severe lack of oversight and planning.
Tragedies have unfolded; a man named Jane Alam met his end in the river, and a boat carrying 20 passengers en route to Tanguar Haor tragically capsized after entangling with a rural electricity wire. The previous year, a woman and a child perished in the river due to power line entanglement.
Although incidents like these are reported in other upazilas, the lack of precise data makes it challenging to quantify the extent of casualties in the district.
Electrocutions are frequent in the monsoon season as cables dangle perilously, yet accidents persist in the summer, including during Baisakhi storms. A culture of indifference towards these electrical hazards prevails, exacerbating the problem and elevating the toll of accidents.
During the monsoon, the people of the haor area are left with no choice but to travel by waterways. These journeys, fraught with natural hazards, are made even riskier due to the man-made menace of electrified cables.
The haor region is plagued by an intricate web of electric wires hanging over its rivers. The Patlai-Boulai River, Shanir Haor, Dekhar Haor, Matian Haor, Tanguar Haor, and over two hundred other locations are marred by these perilous electric cables.
Local residents attest that these cables often make contact with boats, leading to tragic consequences due to negligence. In this tourist-famous haor region, conscientious citizens call for the relocation and proper installation of electrical infrastructure to safeguard both riverbank communities and tourists.
Suprabhat Chakma, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Tahirpur, stressed the importance of raising awareness among tourists, houseboat operators, and boat drivers to mitigate these accidents. He emphasized the need for a systematic placement of electric cables to ensure safety.
Messenger/Dwipal/Disha
