Eleven floodlight ballasts stolen from Kamalapur Stadium

Eleven floodlight ballasts were stolen from Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mostafa Kamal Stadium at Kamalapur on 6 February, just days before the national elections scheduled for 12 February, highlighting serious security gaps at the multi-crore stadium. The theft went largely unnoticed as attention was focused on election preparations in the nation.

Stadium Administrator Masudur Rahman said the theft took place late at night. “That night, between 12:30am and 1am, a ground staff member called me and informed me that someone had climbed the tower with the intention of stealing. A heavy black box fell to the ground. When our security guard reached the spot, he found a black box lying there, and the thieves had already fled,” he said.

Masudur explained the circumstances, “We have only three security guards at Kamalapur. On that night, only one guard was on duty, stationed at the main gate. Trucks from Chittagong arrive at night, and he was busy managing the gate.”

Each ballast, though small in appearance, weighs over 20 kilogrammes and costs around Tk50,000. With 11 units stolen, the total loss is estimated at nearly Tk6 lakh.

The theft was reported to the local police with a General Diary, and the National Sports Council (NSC) has been notified. Masudur said an internal investigation committee has been formed, and all officials on duty at the time have been issued show-cause notices.

“The investigation report has already been submitted to the office. The process has been ongoing for some time, and responsibility is being addressed,” he added.

NSC Director (Sports) Aminul Ehsan commented on the incident, “The theft clearly exposes weaknesses in stadium security. Police have been informed, and an internal inquiry is underway. Appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.”

The incident underscores the vulnerabilities of the stadium, where limited manpower, inadequate monitoring, and internal mismanagement continue to jeopardise valuable assets.