The government has decided to introduce experimental load-shedding in the capital, Dhaka, to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply for irrigation in rural areas and reduce the urban-rural disparity in power distribution.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit made the announcement in Parliament on Thursday during a session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.
He said the initiative aims to ensure that farmers receive adequate electricity during the peak irrigation season so that agricultural production is not disrupted.
The minister acknowledged that public confidence in government statements has weakened over time, but emphasized that the current administration remains committed to transparency and accountability. He attributed the ongoing power crisis to accumulated mismanagement in previous years, noting a gap between installed capacity and actual generation.
According to him, the country’s peak electricity demand recently reached around 16,000 MW, while generation stood at approximately 14,126 MW, forcing authorities to implement load-shedding of about 2,086 MW nationwide.
To address the situation, the government has decided to initially implement around 110 MW of load-shedding in Dhaka on a trial basis, aligning with broader efforts to ensure equitable electricity distribution.
The minister also highlighted a significant gas supply shortfall. Against a daily demand of 3,800 million cubic feet, supply currently stands at around 2,636 million cubic feet, leaving a deficit of 1,164 million cubic feet. He noted that despite having financial capacity, limitations in infrastructure are restricting rapid increases in gas imports. However, improvements in this area are expected within the government’s 180-day priority plan.
He added that temporary shutdowns of an imported power plant and a coal-based plant for maintenance have further affected supply. Once these facilities return to full operation in the coming days, the load-shedding situation is expected to ease within a week.
The minister expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience caused to the public, assuring that the government is working to stabilize the power supply as quickly as possible.
