Rural Areas Bear Brunt of Power Shortages

Bangladesh is experiencing persistent electricity shortages, with load shedding now extending well beyond the usual peak hours and affecting weekends when demand would traditionally be lower. Despite government offices, courts, educational institutions and many industrial facilities remaining closed on weekly holidays, power cuts have continued at a high level, reflecting a widening gap between electricity demand and available supply.

According to figures from the Power Grid Bangladesh (PGCB) PLC, average load shedding on Fridays and Saturdays has exceeded 2,000 megawatts over the past three weeks. Officials also warn that electricity demand is likely to rise further if rainfall remains scarce and temperatures continue to climb, potentially resulting in even longer power outages.

The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), the country’s primary electricity generation and supply authority, oversees production, while PGCB manages transmission. Electricity is then distributed through six separate utilities, the largest of which is the Rural Electrification Board (REB), serving most of Bangladesh’s rural communities.

Although Bangladesh currently has an installed electricity generation capacity exceeding 28,000 megawatts, actual production has fallen to between 13,000 and 14,000 megawatts because of fuel shortages. Meanwhile, national demand has climbed beyond 16,500 megawatts, creating a daily shortfall of between 2,000 and 3,000 megawatts that must be managed through scheduled load shedding.

The impact is being felt most severely outside the capital. Rural areas served by the REB are experiencing the longest outages, with some communities reporting power cuts lasting five to six hours or even longer each day. Residents, farmers, small businesses and students have all been affected as prolonged blackouts disrupt daily life and economic activity.

PGCB data indicate that load shedding begins to increase after 10:00 pm and reaches its highest level between midnight and 4:00 am. On Thursday night, the power deficit remained close to 2,000 megawatts after midnight. By 12:00 am on Friday, load shedding had reached 2,275 megawatts before rising slightly to 2,284 megawatts at 1:00 am. During Saturday daytime, approximately 1,700 megawatts of load shedding was still required, with officials expecting higher levels after dark.

Energy sector experts say the pattern of electricity consumption has changed noticeably over recent years. Demand used to decline sharply after midnight, but that is no longer the case. A significant factor is believed to be the widespread overnight charging of batteries used in electric rickshaws across the country. This year, late-night football matches have added further pressure, with many supporters remaining awake to watch fixtures broadcast between 11:00 pm and 6:00 am. Electricity generation is typically reduced during those hours, making it more difficult to meet unexpectedly high demand.

BPDB Member (Generation) Md Zahurul Islam said overnight demand previously fell by around 3,000 megawatts but now declines by only about 1,000 megawatts. He noted that coal-fired generation has recently increased, improving overall supply to some extent. Even so, shortages remain. Oil-fired power plants, despite having available capacity, cannot be operated extensively because of their exceptionally high operating costs.

The situation in rural districts illustrates the scale of the challenge. According to REB sources, Sherpur experienced load shedding of 56 per cent at around 4:00 am on Friday, receiving only 27 megawatts of electricity against demand of 62 megawatts. In Bagerhat, demand reached 70 megawatts while supply stood at only 41 megawatts. Sylhet Palli Bidyut Samity-1 recorded demand of 72 megawatts but received just 38 megawatts. Similar reports of extensive load shedding have also emerged from Noakhali, Jamalpur, Sherpur and Tangail.

Officials at BPDB acknowledge that meeting the additional demand created by the summer heat is currently beyond their capacity. Gas-fired generation cannot be expanded because domestic gas supplies continue to decline, while increased reliance on oil-fired plants would significantly raise subsidy costs. As a result, authorities are continuing with controlled load shedding as the primary means of balancing the national grid.

The financial condition of the power sector is adding further pressure. Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever electricity generation of 17,200 megawatts on 20 May, when coal-fired plants alone produced 6,081 megawatts. Coal generation has since dropped to around 4,800 megawatts on average. Outstanding payments have become a major concern, with the Payra power plant reportedly owed more than Tk 9,000 crore. The Banshkhali power plant in Chattogram has also struggled to purchase coal because of unpaid bills exceeding Tk 5,000 crore. Overall, BPDB’s outstanding liabilities have reached approximately Tk 45,000 crore, raising concerns about maintaining a stable fuel supply.

A senior BPDB official, speaking anonymously, said the electricity tariff increase introduced in June is expected to improve the organisation’s revenue and prevent further accumulation of unpaid bills. However, clearing existing debts will take considerably longer. Limiting the operation of expensive oil-fired plants is also viewed as essential to reducing the government’s subsidy burden.

Meanwhile, consumers continue to endure the consequences. With temperatures remaining exceptionally high, frequent power cuts have intensified hardship for households, factory owners, businesses, farmers and drivers of battery-powered vehicles. Rural electricity officials report growing frustration among consumers, with complaints increasing daily and field staff finding it increasingly difficult to reassure affected communities.

Consumer rights advocates argue that the underlying problem lies in constrained fuel imports and inadequate energy supplies. They warn that unless sustained measures are taken to strengthen fuel procurement and improve the financial health of the electricity sector, load shedding is likely to remain a regular feature of daily life, with rural communities continuing to shoulder the heaviest burden.

Key Figures Behind the Current Electricity Crisis