The country faces acute power outages as a 3,000 megawatt power shortage grips the country.
The situation turned worse after the country was hit by scorching weather since beginning of this month.
From different districts said the villagers and people in towns, including big ones like Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna and Rajshahi, are facing on an average 10-hour power outage a day.
Low-voltage was also a problem.
This power outage has apparently caused by increased use of electricity due to the recent heat wave and closure of some big power stations.
A few of the power plants were closed down for repairs ahead of Ramadan while one or two have suddenly been shut due to technical glitches.
State minister for power, energy and mineral resources, Nasrul Hamid, said the situation will improve in four days.
That means the power outages will continue for two or three days more due to the gap between demand and supply.
The suddenly closed Bibiana power plant run by Summit Group, that produces 341 MW of electricity, was not able to restart till Monday morning.
Power Development Board (PDB) sources said Meghnaghat’s 450 MW power plant is among of those which have been shut for repairs and maintenance. It will resume operation by 27 May. And Ashuganj’s 360 MW power plant may take six days more while Bheramara and Barapukuria will also take a few more days.
PDB sources said Sirajganj’s 225 MW power station will resume generation (today) Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the government celebrated 15,000 MW power generation capacity of the country recently. In reality, the authorities never had been able to produce more than 9,200 MW.
From Chittagong, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Barisal, Mymensingh, Kushtia, Sylhet, Khulna and Jessore said tremendous power cuts were observed in the area on Monday. People in the area suffer a lot due to this load-shedding.
1700 MW shortage at REB
The Rural Electricity Board (REB) subscribers demand 5200 MW of electricity a day, but it now can provide just 3500 MW. As a result, REB faces a 1700 MW power shortfall.
Dhaka faces 500 MW shortage
Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) of two Dhaka electricity suppliers demands nearly 1500 MW a day. Executive director of the DPDC said nowadays they are getting 1200 MW.
Another power supplier Dhaka Electricity Supply Company (DESCO) needs 850 MW. DESCO managing director Brigadier General (rted.) Shahed Sarwar said the authorities are being provided with just 600 MW.
Rajshahi-Rangpur region
Rajshahi North-West Zone Power Distribution Company chief engineer Rezaul Karim said the power authorities are not getting more than 500 MW while their customers demand 900 MW.
The power division’s regional office sources said customers in Rangpur division, including Panchagar, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur districts, need 500-530 MW of electricity, but 280-320 MW is being supplied.
Zone Power Distribution Company
Western Zone Power Distribution Company covers 21 districts in the greater Khulna and Barisal. The region demands 1,400 MW of electricity.
The company sources said they are now getting just 900 MW.