More than 200 solar lights have been stolen from a five-kilometre stretch of Gomti River embankment road in Cumilla’s Adarsha Sadar Upazila, leaving over 100,000 residents in significant distress.
The thefts have plunged the once-illuminated thoroughfare into darkness, raising serious safety concerns for the local population.
In 2023, the Adarsha Sadar Upazila Parishad funded the installation of approximately 500 solar lights at a cost of several crore Taka. The project, which spanned from the border area of Golabari in Panchthubi Union through Tikkarchar to Palpara, initially provided safe and seamless travel for villagers after sunset.
However, the infrastructure has been systematically dismantled over time. According to local reports, miscreants have stolen approximately 200 solar lights in stages.
In several instances, the thieves removed only the lights, while in others, the entire installation including the poles was uprooted. As a result, large portions of the road are now engulfed in pitch darkness as soon as evening falls.
Residents have expressed growing fear regarding the risk of theft, mugging, and robbery. Women, students, and working professionals are reportedly the most affected by the lack of security. Abul Hossain, a resident of Jaluapara, said the frequency of thefts increased after 5 August, as perpetrators took advantage of a period of reduced supervision.
Sohel, an expatriate businessman from Subornapur village, alleged that the lights were stolen as part of a planned effort to facilitate drug trafficking along the northern side of the Gomti embankment.
Hosne-Ara Akter, a student at Cumilla Mohila College, added that the darkness has made her daily commute home terrifying.
Local representatives have also attributed the crime to a syndicate of mobile drug users and traffickers. Acting Chairman of Panchthubi Union Kazi Tanveer Ahmed Rahul blamed the thefts on the relative inactivity of law enforcement agencies.
He suggested that drug users stole and sold the lights to fund their addiction. He further noted that locals recently apprehended one thief and handed him over to the police. The acting chairman has demanded the recovery of the stolen lights, the repair of damaged sections, and the installation of new lights to ensure public safety.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Md Reza Hasan said he was previously unaware of the situation. After being informed, he assured that necessary measures would be taken considering the gravity of the matter.
Residents continue to call for the immediate restoration of the lights to return the vital road to its former state and ensure the safety of the community.
