Severe load shedding hits Sylhet amid heatwave

People in Sylhet are suffering from frequent load shedding due to the intense heat. Load shedding is occurring for an hour every half hour, disrupting daily work in offices, courts, and homes.

Officials from the Electricity Department said that load shedding is being implemented hourly due to a shortage of electricity supply compared to demand.

Locals said that load shedding has been taking place in the district since the beginning of this month. However, it became severe from Wednesday night and continued throughout the day on Thursday (April 16).

The Electricity Department says that Sylhet currently has an average electricity shortage of 35 percent compared to demand. Due to this, load shedding is being carried out in various areas on a scheduled basis.

According to information from the Power Development Board (PDB) and the Rural Electrification Board, the electricity demand in Sylhet is 477 megawatts.

Of this, the PDB supplies 170 MW and Palli Bidyut supplies 307 MW. Compared to demand, Palli Bidyut is receiving 167 MW from the national grid and the PDB 130 MW. There is an average deficit of 35 percent in both institutions.

According to relevant sources, there has been a crisis in the supply of fuel oil due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. As a result, power generation is being disrupted.

Those involved in production say that the situation may worsen if fuel supply to power plants is not ensured, although the government is assuring that the situation will remain under control. Meanwhile, traders have expressed anger over frequent load shedding.

They allege that business has already been limited due to the directive to close shops by 7 pm. Since then, public life has been disrupted due to the lack of electricity throughout the day, affecting both business and commerce.

Anisur Rahman from the Bagbari area of Sylhet city said, “There is load shedding for one hour every half hour. The situation is getting worse day by day. It is becoming difficult to run businesses, and products in refrigerators are getting spoiled.”

Mohammad Imam Hossain, Chief Engineer of the Sylhet Division of the Power Development Board, said that electricity demand has increased due to rising temperatures, but production has not increased. As a result, there is a shortage in supply, which is why load shedding is occurring.

He said, “Our daily demand is 170 megawatts. Out of this, we are experiencing a 15 to 20 percent deficit in supply. This situation cannot improve unless production at the national level increases.”

Paresh Chandra Mandal, Superintendent Engineer of the Rural Electrification Board of Sylhet, said, “Rural electricity consumers have a demand of 307 megawatts, but we are being supplied with 167 megawatts.

There is an average deficit of 49 percent. It does not seem that this crisis will end soon.”