Kazi Zahidul Hasan :The Power Ministry has sought enhanced security measures for the power plants and sub-stations across the country fearing sabotage in such establishments in the wake of political turmoil, officials said.The Power Division on behalf of the ministry recently sent a letter to the Home Ministry seeking protection and prevention of possible sabotage. “We have sought additional security measures for all the power plants and related establishments across the country from the concerned ministry to fend any attempt of sabotage and arson attack,” a senior Power Division official told The New Nation on Thursday.Apart from the ministry, the official asking not to be named said, the Power Division has also requested the local administrations to enhance vigilance at the power plants and sub-stations until the political unrest ends. The country has a total of 92 power plants and 1,055 sub-stations. Out of the total substation, 129 are grid sub-stations and the rest are distribution sub-stations.Referring to recent attacks on three local offices of Power Development Board (PDB) in Chittagong, Bogra and Sirajganj districts, the official said that we must maintain a tight security measures against petrol bomb attacks targeting power plants.He added that possibility of sabotage and arson attack is higher in the northern region than other parts of the country as the Jamaat-Shibir activists are more aggressive in the area. “Adequate security measures have already been in place at large power plants and sub-stations with deployment of army personnel. We also alerted the concerned officers at the power plants in this regard,” said Shahinul Islam Khan, Chairman of the PDB.But, the incidences of petrol bomb attacks during the blockade and hartal have raised our concern about possibility of sabotage and act of destruction in the power plants, he said. “Power plants are already under a tight security blanket. We have told our security personnel to increase security at the power plants and other key installations to prevent any untoward situation during the ongoing blockade and hartals,” said state Minister for Home Asadizzman Khan Kamal. He said his Ministry has already asked the intelligence agencies to intensify their watch and vigilance on sensitive areas, including power plants, to tackle any untoward situation.The Law enforcing agencies recently arrested several persons, including BNP and Jamaat-Shibir activists, in Chittagong and recovered huge amount of explosives from there. The arrestees confessed to having plotted to attack the 100-megawatt Peaking Power Plant and grid sub-station at Hathazari upazila in the district. Earlier on February 28, 2013, Jamaat-Shibir activists carried out an arson attack on a sub-station of Palli Bidyut Samity at Kansat of Shibganj upazila under Chapainawabganj district, immediately after the verdict of Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee by the International Crimes Tribunal-1. The Tribunal sentenced Sayedee to death for crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.The destruction led to the power sector to incur a loss of around Tk 200 crore.
