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Unpardonable, Disgraceful

Saleque Sufi

Anti-Liberation syndicates in Bangladesh in the name of protesting the death sentence of Delawar Hossain Sayeedy, Nayebe Ameer of Jamaat-e–Islami, vandalized, burnt and destroyed properties and assets of REB at Kansat, Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj. This very subversive act of the enemies of Bangladesh on a Key Point Installation supplying electricity to one of the high yielding crop growing areas  has already created extensive damage to farming community. About 40,000 power consumers are living without power.  In this high irrigation season there is little alternative to run irrigation pumps. Consequently, it will adversely impact on cultivation. One recollects an incident during BNP-Jamaat rule when farmers were murdered by police demanding supply of fertilizer.

In a democratic country any citizen has constructional right to protest against government actions. But no sensible freedom loving self-respecting citizen can accept the acts of any person or group destroying national assets and properties which hurts the national interest. The incident at Kansat must have been a well-planned supervise act to cause extensive damage to country’s efforts in attaining food autarky. This had been done with evil intention to hurt poor farming community.

We have no words to condemn such acts of sabotage and atrocity. It evidences that this evil syndicate is out to sabotage and do everything to hurt the national endeavor to stand on its feet. They did not believe in the creation of Bangladesh and they are doing everything to destabilize the country and create an environment where opportunist can fish in muddy waters.

Bangladesh is endeavoring to attain energy security. Smooth Power and Energy generation and supply is an essential precondition for achieving sustainable economic growth and development. Energy security facilitates creation of job opportunity and poverty alleviation. It is also essential for agricultural production. Bangladesh needs to feed two square meals to its growing population. Power and Gas Supply systems have Key Point Installations [KPI]. KPI are installations which must have bubble tight security as any breach of it affects national interest. There are several categories of KPI. There is a KPIDC, a group of senior level officials of concerned ministries which plan KPI defense.

Kansat Power substation is such a KPI. The Jamaat-Shibir avalanche on the day not only led to loss of 33 valuable lives but also put 44,000 people of three upzillas into darkness. Power supply to all irrigation pumps in the area in this high irrigation season is stooped causing serious panic among farming community.

It is a matter of great regret that some self-styled patriotic political parties and so-called intellectuals appearing in regular TV talk shows did not condemn this incident. Government however has issued red alert to all KPIs of power and energy installations following that incident. But it a bit too late. Government should have been a bit smart earlier.  Now the every sensible citizen must act from their respective position to resist such subversive acts and sabotage. Such type of activity can only be compared with recent hostage crisis at an Algerian Gas treatment plant by the AL Qaeda linked group.