World Cup Power Cuts Spark Protests and Violence in Bangladesh

A punishing heatwave coupled with relentless power outages has plunged public life across Bangladesh into chaos. Outraged consumers have staged demonstrations, blocked major national highways, and besieged electricity offices in Tangail, Jhalakathi, and Dhaka’s Dohar sub-district to protest against unbearable load-shedding and alleged institutional mismanagement. In Netrokona’s Kendua, the frustration turned violent when a mob attacked a local power office after blackouts prevented them from watching a live Football World Cup match.

The crisis has spread to other regions as well. In Sherpur, rural electricity officials have sought urgent police protection after receiving targeted threats on their mobile phones from fans unable to watch the tournament. Meanwhile, a group of individuals forcibly entered a power substation in Sylhet’s Companiganj, cutting off the regional transmission line. Power distribution companies maintain that the country is facing a severe power deficit, leaving them with no choice but to enforce rotational blackouts.

Regional Disruptions and Statistical Breakdown

The current crisis stems from a massive disparity between electricity generation and public demand, exacerbated by the added load of the ongoing global football tournament. The following table provides an analytical breakdown of the electricity deficits and consumer networks across the worst-affected districts reported on Sunday:

Vandalism and Highways Blocked over Football Blackouts

The zonal office of the Rural Electrification Board (Palli Bidyut Samity) in Netrokona’s Kendua became the target of public wrath on Sunday morning. At approximately 8:15 am, a crowd of around fifty youths gathered outside the Southpara facility. Outraged by a power cut during a World Cup match between Argentina and Jordan, the demonstrators began pelting the building with bricks, shattering several glass windows. Terrified staff locked themselves inside the complex until police and community leaders arrived to pacify the crowd. Normal power supply was restored shortly after the intervention.

Simultaneously, a major transport gridlock formed on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway. Hundreds of consumers from the Delduar and Mirzapur sub-districts blocked the road outside the Jamurki power substation, halting traffic for over an hour. Local residents stated they were forced to take direct action after repeated institutional appeals went unheeded.

In response to the growing civil unrest, Robiul Awal, the Member of Parliament for Tangail-6, sent an urgent missive to the Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, requesting immediate intervention to stabilise the regional grid.

Phantom Bills and Extortionate Threats

In Dohar, near the capital, the grievances extended beyond blackouts to include allegations of financial malpractice. Local consumers besieged the Nurpur electricity office to protest against a succession of “phantom” or inflated bills issued over recent months. Demonstrators blocked the main Dhaka-Dohar road until police cleared the highway. Badal Miah, the local Deputy General Manager, denied issuing fabricated bills but acknowledged that surging summer temperatures had drastically outpaced the available supply.

Further north in Sherpur, the situation grew tense enough for the general manager, Akhtaruzzaman, to write to the District Superintendent of Police requesting armed protection for state infrastructure. Officials reported receiving an influx of threatening phone calls, whilst rowdy crowds disrupted operations at the Nakla and Jhinaiqati power stations during match broadcasts.

Substation Incursions and Retaliatory Public Anger

In Sylhet’s Companiganj, a midnight incursion occurred at a local substation. Following an abusive phone call to the helpline, two individuals breached the facility at 3:40 am and manually deactivated the 33 kV Automatic Circuit Recloser (ACR). The duty lineman managed to escape unharmed, and an official criminal complaint has been lodged with the local police station to identify the perpetrators.

The public anger has also begun to impact state public relations. In Rajshahi’s Bagmara, an official pickup van equipped with loudspeakers was deployed to urge patience and request that shopkeepers close by 9:00 pm to conserve energy. However, as the vehicle reached the Machmoil market, an angry crowd surrounded the van, hurling abuse and forcing the state operators to flee the scene in haste.

Fakhrul Alam, General Manager of Natore Palli Bidyut Samity-1, stated that a formal request for an emergency allocation of 20 MW has been forwarded to the government whip to alleviate the severe deficit during the tournament.