In Goalanda upazila of Rajbari district, incidents of electrical transformer theft have risen to concerning levels, with at least 29 transformers reported stolen over the past year. The trend has caused widespread concern among farmers, traders, and general electricity consumers.
The thefts have had a particularly severe impact during the Boro and Irri irrigation seasons, when farmers rely heavily on electricity for agricultural irrigation. Alongside transformers, there has also been a reported increase in thefts of electrical wires, fans, and other equipment from educational institutions and residential areas.
On 7 May, a 100-kilovolt transformer installed near the West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCL) office was stolen from the roadside adjacent to the Dhaka–Khulna highway bypass in Deogram Union. The transformer contained around 200 kilograms of copper wire, with an estimated market value of approximately three lakh taka.
A local tea stall owner, Md Nazrul Sheikh, stated that he closed his shop at around 10 pm and returned home, only to find the next morning that the transformer had been dismantled and its copper wiring stolen. He also noted that despite regular night patrols on the highway, the theft still occurred.
According to the Goalanda Palli Bidyut Sub-Zonal Office, their operational area covers the entire Goalanda upazila and parts of Rajbari Sadar upazila, including Basantapur, Sultanpur, Barat, Shahid Wahabpur, and Pachuria unions. The network comprises a total of 1,308 transformers serving 41,145 customers across residential, commercial, industrial, and irrigation sectors.
In the current fiscal year up to May 2026, a total of 28 transformers have been stolen within Goalanda upazila alone. These include 22 irrigation transformers, 3 residential transformers, and 3 industrial transformers.
| Category | Number of Transformers Stolen |
|---|---|
| Irrigation sector | 22 |
| Residential sector | 3 |
| Industrial sector | 3 |
| Total (current fiscal year) | 28 |
| Total (last one year) | 29 |
| Total transformers under service | 1,308 |
| Total consumers | 41,145 |
Farmers Plabon Ahmed and Murad Hossain stated that although transformers are stolen by criminals, the financial burden ultimately falls on ordinary consumers. They explained that after depositing the required funds to the rural electricity office, new transformers are purchased and reinstalled, resulting in additional financial strain on farmers.
Md Asaduzzaman, Assistant General Manager of Goalanda Palli Bidyut Samity, confirmed that 28 transformers have been stolen this year. He stated that written complaints have been filed with the police in each case. In two incidents where arrests were made, formal cases were registered. The remaining 26 incidents have been recorded as general diaries (GD).
Md Tofazzal Hossain, Resident Engineer of West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited, said that a complaint was lodged with the police regarding the 7 May theft. He added that alternative feeder lines have been arranged to ensure electricity supply for irrigation farmers and other consumers. He further noted that only one transformer theft incident has occurred under their jurisdiction in the past two years.
Officer-in-Charge of Goalanda Ghat Police Station, Md Shafiqul Islam, stated that a case has been filed regarding the WZPDCL transformer theft. Law enforcement efforts are ongoing to recover the stolen equipment and apprehend those responsible. He also confirmed that in a separate rural electricity case, a charge sheet has been submitted to the court, and three accused individuals were arrested and sent to court custody.