Prolonged and intense load-shedding has severely disrupted normal life in Tangail, as residents grapple with extreme heat and persistent power outages. The situation is particularly dire in rural areas, where electricity cuts are more frequent and prolonged than in urban areas.
Locals say that outages lasting 8 to 10 hours a day have become routine across the district. The ongoing crisis has disproportionately affected children, the elderly, and the sick, while also taking a toll on businesses and agricultural activities.
According to sources at the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), Tangail has approximately 365,000 consumers, with a daily demand of 160–170 megawatts. However, only 100–110 megawatts have been supplied over the past two weeks, leaving a deficit of around 70 megawatts and triggering widespread load-shedding.
Officials from the Rural Electrification Board say that across seven upazilas, there are about 624,000 consumers with a demand of 198 megawatts. Against this, only 134 megawatts are being supplied, resulting in a shortfall of nearly 64 megawatts.
Residents say the power crisis has made daily life increasingly unbearable. Irrigation for Boro paddy cultivation is being disrupted due to unreliable electricity, raising concerns over potential crop losses. Small businesses are also facing significant setbacks due to frequent interruptions.
A resident of Pakulla village under Sadar upazila said that outages have intensified in recent days. “We experience power cuts six to seven times a day. Even when electricity returns, it lasts only two to two-and-a-half hours,” he said, adding that nighttime outages are equally common.
Farmers warn that the erratic supply is threatening agricultural output. “We cannot irrigate our fields properly without electricity. If this continues, crop production will suffer,” said a local cultivator.
Students are also struggling to keep up with their studies amid frequent outages, especially during the ongoing examinations. “It becomes extremely difficult to study in this heat without electricity,” said one examinee.
Business owners report declining sales, and customers avoid venturing out in uncomfortable conditions. “Even backup systems are failing to cope with the scale of outages,” a trader said.
BPDB officials attribute the crisis to a shortfall in supply from the national grid. A senior engineer said electricity generation has not kept pace with demand over the past two weeks.
A general manager of the Rural Electrification Board acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating that fluctuations in supply and demand are occurring hourly. “Load-shedding is unavoidable due to the deficit, and both the public and authorities are facing hardship,” he said.