Sheikh Russel Mini Stadium: Electric poles in playground pose danger

Due to lack of coordination between institutions concerned, Sheikh Russel Mini Stadium has been constructed without removing three electric poles in the playground of Tangail's Ghatail upazila, posing risks of accidents.

The power lines passing through the stadium has turned into death traps, said locals.

The authorities concerned started construction work of the stadium at an estimated cost of Tk 41 lakh in Khazarchala area of the upazila in October 2018. Lately, the work has been completed. Everyone is now waiting for inauguration of the stadium.

The government took an initiative to construct a mini stadium in each upazila of the country for development and progress of sports at village level. Later, Jatiya Krira Parishad and Youth and Sports Ministry implemented the initiative.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found three electric poles at the playground in the stadium. The electric lines of Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) are seen passing through the stadium, posing risks of accidents.

Shahidul Islam, chairman of Sandhanpur union parishad, said the sports activities will be hampered due to the power lines. It will also put the lives of the players at risk.

The electric lines should be remove immediately, said the chairman.  

Asked about the matter, Nurul Islam Khan, executive engineer of PDB in Ghatail, told The Daily Star that the electric poles were installed before construction of the mini stadium.

When the construction work of the stadium was going on, they verbally asked the contractor concerned to shift the poles to somewhere else but the contractor did not comply for unknown reason, said Nurul Islam. 

The electric poles will be shifted to suitable places as soon as possible, he added.