The Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Dakhil, and equivalent examinations are set to begin on Tuesday amid a severe electricity crisis and prolonged load shedding.
This year, a total of 1,857,344 students are expected to sit for the examinations. However, students and parents, particularly outside the capital, have expressed concern over the prevailing power situation, with many areas reportedly experiencing load shedding lasting 8 to 10 hours a day.
The prolonged outages have raised concerns about students’ preparedness, as well as the availability of uninterrupted power supply at examination centers.
Amid a global energy crisis, electricity generation in the country has declined significantly, resulting in a persistent gap between demand and supply. From district towns to rural regions, widespread load shedding has been reported, with some areas experiencing 8 to 10 hours power fluctuations and rural communities facing even more severe disruptions.
Regions including Chittagong, Barisal, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Rangpur, and Khulna have reported extended outages. In several areas, electricity is being supplied intermittently, while rural locations continue to face more acute shortages.
Against this backdrop, concerns have grown over how the ongoing examinations will be conducted smoothly, particularly regarding study conditions ahead of exams and reliable electricity at examination venues.
According to the Power Grid Bangladesh, at 1:00 PM on Monday, national electricity demand stood at 15,250 megawatts, while supply was 14,031 megawatts, leaving a shortfall of 1,219 megawatts. During peak hours on Sunday evening at 7:00 pm, demand reached 15,900 megawatts, with a deficit of 1,051 megawatts recorded.
These figures reflect the national grid situation. Officials from the Rural Electrification Board have also stated that they are not receiving electricity in line with demand and are managing the shortfall through scheduled load shedding in affected areas.
Residents of Banshkhali in Chittagong are facing severe difficulties due to frequent power outages, particularly as the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations approach. Locals say the combination of persistent load shedding and intense heat is creating significant hardship for students preparing for the exams.
Rupna Ahmed, a resident of the area whose son is an SSC candidate this year, said that daytime load shedding does not significantly affect study time, although the extreme heat already makes conditions difficult. However, she noted that frequent power cuts at night are particularly troubling.
She added that many rural students are now forced to study by candlelight or kerosene lamps during outages, describing the situation as a return to an “old era.” According to her, the ongoing heatwave combined with prolonged power disruptions is making exam preparation increasingly difficult.
Meanwhile, Abdul Halim, currently overseeing operations at Rangpur Palli Bidyut Samity-2 due to a vacancy in the General Manager position, said that peak-hour electricity demand in the area is around 80 to 85 megawatts, while supply stands at 55 to 60 megawatts. This shortfall of 25 to 35 megawatts is resulting in necessary load shedding. He added that electricity demand is lower in the morning, leading to minimal outages during that period.
Separately, Chittagong Palli Bidyut Samity General Manager Engineer Nur Mohammad stated that during peak hours, electricity demand in his area reaches 170 to 180 megawatts, while supply remains at 120 to 130 megawatts. The resulting gap of 50 megawatts is being managed through scheduled load shedding.
He further said the government has instructed authorities to announce load-shedding schedules via through miking so that consumers can be informed in advance. He also urged the public to remain patient amid the ongoing situation.
According to official data, a total of 930,305 male and 927,039 female students are participating in this year’s SSC examinations. The highest number of candidates is under the Dhaka Education Board, with 366,650 students.
Ministry figures show that 14,18,398 students are appearing under nine general education boards. Additionally, 3,04,286 students are sitting for the Dakhil examinations under the Madrasah Education Board, while 134,660 candidates are participating under the Technical Education Board.
In total, the examinations are being held at 3,885 centers across the country, involving students from 30,666 educational institutions.
Amid severe heat, ongoing load shedding, and electricity shortages, the SSC examinations are beginning under challenging conditions. While millions of students are set to participate, concerns remain over whether uninterrupted electricity supply can be ensured, as continued disruptions risk further increasing difficulties for examinees.