Sr. Join Secretary of BNP Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has called on the government to intensify efforts to address the ongoing power crisis and reduce nationwide load shedding.
Speaking at a reception and award ceremony organized by the Jatiyatabadi Charu O Karushilpi Dal at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Thursday (April 23), the BNP Senior Joint Secretary General highlighted the severity of the situation, particularly in rural areas.
“Load-shedding is occurring across the country, and rural areas are facing severe outages. The concerned minister and relevant authorities must take strong and coordinated action to tackle the crisis,” he said.
Referring to the ongoing heatwave, Rizvi noted that temperatures in Rajshahi recently reached around 40°C, worsening public suffering. He emphasized that the Ministry of Power must act more proactively to manage electricity demand during extreme weather conditions.
He also pointed to a significant shortfall in electricity supply, estimating a deficit of around 4,000 megawatts. “Government ministers must be more alert and responsive. It is not enough to make statements—people need reassurance and effective measures,” he added.
Rizvi attributed the crisis partly to global factors, including disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East. He mentioned that delays in fuel shipments, including vessels from Iran, have contributed to the shortage.
However, he stressed that authorities should acknowledge the reality of the situation rather than downplaying it. “Price increases may be natural under global conditions, but the government must speak the truth. The energy crisis is driven by international factors, particularly the Middle East conflict,” he said.
