Muhammad Tareq; Economic Desk: As a heatwave sweeps across 20 districts, including Dhaka, the country’s electricity crisis has taken a turn for the worse.
Despite government figures citing a 2,500 MW deficit, distribution companies report that the actual shortage has surpassed 4,000 MW, leading to 12–16 hours of load shedding in rural areas.
State Minister for Power, Anindya Islam Amit, informed Parliament on Thursday that load shedding will now be implemented in urban areas as well to ensure regional equity.
He attributed the current struggle to the “mismanagement of the previous regime” and global fuel supply disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.
Fuel and Financial Shortages
The Power Division revealed that rising temperatures, coupled with a severe dollar crisis, have hampered the import of LNG, coal, and furnace oil. Currently, 18 power plants are completely shut down due to fuel shortages, and 35 others are operating at reduced capacity. The Barapukuria thermal power plant has also ceased production due to mechanical failures.
Hope for May
While the current situation remains dire, officials expect an improvement by the first week of May. Technical repairs at the Adani power plant and the SS Power plant in Banshkhali are expected to add nearly 1,982 MW to the national grid by early next month.
However, experts warn that until the financial crunch for fuel subsidies is resolved, consistent supply remains a challenge.