[Dhaka Tribune] In a major blow to the country's power sector, the Barapukuria thermal power plant in Dinajpur has been shut down owing to an acute shortage of coal after 142,000 tons of coal meant for the power plant disappeared.
The operations of the power plant was stopped around 10:20pm on Sunday, Power Development Board (PDB) Director Saiful Hasan Chowdhury told UNB.
Officials at the PDB, which operates the plant, said they had to completely shut down the plant because of the short supply of coal from the nearby Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd (BCMCL).
Northern districts to suffer power outage
Due to this unexpected shutdown of the power plant, the northern region of Bangladesh ‐ especially comprises Rangpur, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Dinajpur and Thakurgaon districts ‐ may experience unusual power cuts or low voltage problems.
The PDB chief said the authorities were trying to ensure power supply to the districts from alternative sources, such as power plants in other districts like Sirajganj, Khulna and Rajshahi.
"The PDB has urged Petrobangla [Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation] to ensure adequate gas supply to the gas-fired power plants in Sirajganj and other districts so more power can be generated and supplied to the northern region," he added.
Probe committee formed
Allegations have been raised that the coal, worth around Tk227 crore, was illegally sold from Barapukuria coal mine.
BCMCL Managing Director Md Habib Uddin Ahmed has been withdrawn by Petrobangla, while the company's Secretary (GS Administration) Md Abul Quashem Pradhania has been transferred to the Pashchimanchal Gas Distribution Company Ltd.
BCMCL Mining Department General Manager ATS Nuruzzaman Chowdhury and Deputy General Manager Md Khademul have been suspended.
Md Ayub Khan Chowdhury, director (planning) of Petrobangla, has been appointed as the acting managing director of the coal mine company.
Meanwhile,
...back at the pond, the radioactive tadpoles grown into frogs. Really big frogs, in fact...
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu told the Bangla Tribune on Sunday that a committee had been formed to probe the allegations. 
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