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| June 18, 2006 | Sunday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 21, 1427 |
Bangladesh fans turn violent after power failure
DHAKA, June 17: Soccer fans in southwestern Bangladesh attacked an electricity office after multiple power failures interrupted coverage of two World Cup soccer matches.
Protesters wielding bamboo sticks attacked the Rural Electrification Board office in Gopalganj district and hurled stones after the power was cut off during the match between Argentina and Serbia & Montenegro on Friday night, a police official said on Saturday on condition of anonymity, in line with policy.
Two officials were slightly injured in the attacks, he said. The area is 104 kilometres (65 miles) southwest of the capital, Dhaka.
The power failed again during the match between the Netherlands and Ivory Coast, the official said, and extra police were deployed Saturday to prevent further violence.
There was also unrest in Dhaka’s Mirpur region due to the frequent power cuts, the Manabzamin daily reported.
Electrical supplies to rural Bangladesh have been decreased to ensure there is adequate power in Dhaka and other main cities and towns, the newspaper said.
Bangladeshi soccer fans mostly support Brazil or Argentina, and hundreds of flags of the two South American nations have been hoisted in Dhaka and other cities and towns.
The impoverished South Asian nation daily produces about 3,000 megawatts of electricity against total demand of around 4500 megawatts, according to the government's Power Development Board.
The government says the electricity demand has shot up because of growth in industries.—AP
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