Netrakona Correspondent
About 20 IPS batteries have been stolen from a mosque and madrasa in Bakaljora Union of Durgapur Upazila of the district. In addition, there have been numerous thefts in the surrounding markets, including one pickup truck and one bull. The area’s mosque and madrasa worshippers and the general public are in trouble due to the fear of one theft after another. Investigations revealed that there have been at least a hundred thefts in the area in the past few months. This has caused the people of Gramganj to worry about IPS batteries, cows, rice, and autorickshaws. Local residents of the area said that a syndicate of drug addicts in the area stole 2 IPS batteries from Bakaljora Bazar Jame Mosque in Bakaljora Union, 1 battery from Tilabari Jame Mosque, 2 batteries from Abbasia Mazarul Ulum Noorani Madrasa, 4 batteries from the post office, and many mosque batteries in the area. These expensive batteries are being stolen every few days, causing financial losses to the Madrasa Committee and the orphanage. Hamidur Rahman of the area said, “In the past few months, numerous IPS batteries of the mosque and madrasa in our area have been stolen late at night. An imam of the madrasa said that orphan children are unable to sleep at night due to the theft of the IPS batteries of the madrasa mosque.”
The muezzin is unable to give the call to prayer at the mosque. Locals are worried about the theft. Local madrasa students said that such an incident had not happened in several years. This year, at least, there have been more than a hundred thefts in Bakaljora Union. So far, the administration and law enforcement have not been able to recover any of the stolen batteries or cows. Habibur Rahman, a trader in Bakaljora Bazar, said that these thefts happen every few days. We believe that drug addicts may have been involved in this theft. Because it is not possible for ordinary people to steal from mosques and madrasas. In this regard, Durgapur Police Station Officer-in-Charge OC Mahmudul Hasan said that efforts are being made to catch the thieves in the area and bring them under the law.