Incidents of stealing battery from battery-run auto-rickshaws, vans, and easy bikes have increased alarmingly in Wazipur upazila of Barishal.
In the past month alone, batteries from electric auto rickshaws were stolen from various locations in nine unions and one municipality of the upazila. In Sholak union, six individuals, including van drivers Abdur Rahim Bepari, Mohammad Ali, Majibar, and Johnny, as well as easy bike driver Abul Hossain Gunraj, had their vehicle batteries stolen by organized thieves. Each van had four batteries, and easy bikes had five batteries, of which two from each were stolen.
Several van drivers at Satla Bazaar in Satla union, said that about a month ago, thieves took all four batteries from a rickshaw in the South Satla area. In the dead of night, a battery-operated van belonging to a driver named Khairul, resident of Kuchiar Padu in Harata union, was also stolen. Additionally, there has been an increase in easy bike thefts and hijackings in recent days.
Shiraj Islam Talukder, president of the Sholak Union Labor Party, said that there are nearly 100 easy bike and van drivers in the union, and countless others in neighboring unions. However, the full extent of the losses is not known. He added that despite previous complaints and general diaries filed at Wazirpur model police station, the stolen easy bikes have yet to be recovered.
However, it was found that despite losing their batteries, they have not filed complaints at the police station. When asked why, they explained that it costs at least Tk 500 to file a complaint, and even then, police do not recover the batteries. As a result, they have refrained from reporting the thefts and have instead taken loans from various sources to purchase new batteries.
Abul Hossain Gunraj, an easy bike driver from Datteshwar village in Sholak union, shared his experience, saying, "I drive my easy bike all day and charge it at home before going to bed. At 2:00am, I woke up to find that two of my five batteries had been stolen. The money I earn from driving the easy bike barely covers my household expenses, and now, after losing the batteries, I am left helpless.
However, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Wazirpur model police station, Mohammad Abdus Salam, tried to clarify the matter, saying, "Filing a general diary at the police station does not incur any charges. Victims should respect the country's established laws and take necessary steps. If the affected parties file complaints at the relevant police station, the police will take action accordingly."
