‘No power shortage currently’
Bangladesh’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud has said that the country currently has no electricity shortage according to demand, although occasional outages occur during the summer due to primary fuel shortages and transmission constraints.
He made the remarks on Thursday while responding to a written question from Dhaka-18 MP S M Jahangir Hossain during the parliamentary session.
The minister said the government has formulated a 180-day action plan to meet growing consumer demand and to phase out load shedding as part of its election pledge.
He explained that summer peak demand, fuel shortages, transmission and distribution limitations, maintenance work, and storms can sometimes cause minor power disruptions, making continuous supply impossible during those periods.
Minister Mahmud highlighted various initiatives and plans adopted by the power division to gradually eliminate load shedding.
These include short-, medium-, and long-term strategies for electricity generation, coordination and development of transmission and distribution infrastructure, fuel diversification, and increased focus on renewable energy-based power generation.
On energy conservation, the minister said the government is conducting energy audits in 74 designated consumer sites across Mymensingh, Ghorashal, and Narayanganj.
To strengthen the program in industrial and commercial facilities, 42 certified energy auditors and 178 certified energy managers have been trained.
Measures for reducing electricity consumption include holiday staggering, demand and supply-side management, and guidelines for efficient energy use in government offices.
Campaigns are ongoing to encourage proper AC temperature settings (25°C or above), avoidance of excess lighting, and switching off unused equipment.
During peak hours, customers are being urged not to operate water pumps, ovens, heaters, irons, washing machines, or welding machines. Marketplaces and shopping malls are also being monitored to limit excessive lighting.
Additionally, auto-charging stations are being encouraged to avoid peak-hour charging, and nightly operations continue to prevent illegal electricity use, the minister said.
