A tragic incident in Baghā Upazila of Rajshahi, Bangladesh, has left a 35-year-old man dead after he was electrocuted while allegedly attempting to steal a transformer from an electricity pole. The victim, identified as Mamun Pramanik, was reportedly found hanging from the pole for several hours before his body was recovered.

According to local sources, the incident occurred late on Thursday night in the Hamidukura field area. Witnesses and preliminary accounts suggest that Mamun Pramanik first climbed an electricity pole and cut a wire. He then attempted to move to a second nearby pole where a transformer was installed. It was during this attempt that he was fatally electrocuted.

Locals believe he may have tied himself to the structure with a cloth in order to avoid falling while working at height. However, once he came into contact with the live electrical current, he remained suspended on the pole throughout the night.

On Friday morning, a farmer heading to the fields to harvest eggplants discovered the body and immediately alerted villagers. The news quickly spread, drawing a large crowd to the scene. Emergency services were subsequently informed.

Fire service personnel from Baghā station arrived at approximately 7:20 a.m. Following coordination with the police and the rural electricity authority, the body was carefully brought down at around 8:30 a.m.

The station in-charge, Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury, confirmed the timeline of recovery and stated that the operation was conducted with due caution due to the live electrical hazards still present in the area.

The deceased’s family described him as having a turbulent and unstable lifestyle. His brother-in-law, Sohorab Hossain, alleged that Mamun had long been involved in theft and other criminal activities, stating that the family had no claims regarding his actions.

His wife, Shahanaz Begum, said that they have two children and that she has been living separately with them due to her husband’s erratic behaviour. She works at the Ishwardi EPZ to support the family. She also stated that Mamun had taken 1,000 taka from her on Thursday morning, claiming he was going out for work, and later stopped responding to her calls.

Locals suspect that the money may have been used to procure tools for the attempted theft. A set of equipment including an iron rod, bamboo poles, and cutting tools was reportedly found at the scene, strengthening the belief that the act was premeditated.

Police from Baghā confirmed that the body has been sent for post-mortem examination and that an unnatural death case has been filed. The investigation is ongoing.

A spokesperson for the local authorities noted that the incident has raised renewed concerns over the security of rural electrical infrastructure and the growing risk of transformer theft, which continues to pose both safety and economic challenges in the region.

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