Bangladesh fans go on a rampage

DHAKA: Thousands of Bangladeshi football fans went on the rampage after power cuts blacked out television coverage of an eagerly-awaited World Cup match.

Angry supporters damaged scores of cars and buses in the capital Dhaka and vandalised electricity distribution centres across the country late on Saturday after screens went blank for Argentina’s 1 - 0 victory over Nigeria.

“Fans were furious because they could not watch the Argentina vs Nigeria match due to power cuts. Thousands spilled onto the streets and damaged cars and buses,” Dhaka police chief A K M Shahidul Haq told AFP.

Argentina, coached by the maverick former player Diego Maradona, are the fans’ favourite in Bangladesh where the World Cup has a huge following. Faridul Haq, head of Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC), said at least five electricity supply centres had been vandalised by fans in the capital.

“They stormed our offices and threw stones and rocks at our men. We are helpless to meet their demand. We have pleaded for increased security for all our offices,” he told AFP.

Police chief Haq said extra officers had been deployed to protect workers and machinery at power company offices and plants. He urged fans to understand the dire state of the Bangladeshi national grid meant shortages were inevitable. “The reality is that the country does not produce enough power to ensure uninterrupted supply. Fans should understand the situation. Vandalism does not help,” he said.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 14th, 2010.