In Bogura district, 19 out of 21 installed lightning arresters have been found inoperative, heightening public safety concerns amid rising lightning-related deaths. Over the past five years, 73 people have died in lightning strikes across the district, including five this year. The devices were installed in March 2021 across six upazilas under the district relief and rehabilitation department, each costing 680,000 taka. However, due to lack of maintenance, most have become nonfunctional, leaving only two operational units in Shibganj upazila.

Engineers noted that the effectiveness of lightning arresters depends on proper installation, grounding, and annual maintenance, especially before the monsoon. The devices in Bogura have not been inspected in the past five years, according to officials. A recent technical inspection, prompted by a directive from the disaster management department in April, confirmed that 19 units were out of order.

Local officials have informed higher authorities about the malfunctioning equipment and requested further action. Experts suggest that at least 120 devices are needed to adequately cover the district and protect farmers working in open fields.