Power outages have become a regular phenomenon in Rajibpur upazila of Kurigram adding to sufferings of the people during the current summer.
People’s woes have mounted because of hot temperature as two power stations of the region have remained shut.
Random load shedding has recently prompted the electricity consumers to go for demonstration to push for immediate uninterrupted power supply.
Works at the government and non-government offices and educational institutions, business and hospital services are being hampered due to intermittent power supply.
Local Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS) office sources said the total number of household electricity connections in the upazila is 13,000, says a UNB report.
There is a demand for six megawatts of electricity in the upazila daily as there are two bakeries, 50 rice mills, eight shallow and deep tube wells, added the sources.
But the PBS supplies only two and a half megawatts daily, of which brunt the traders also have to bear highly. Moin Ali, a battery charger shop owner, said due to frequent load shedding, their production has come down to half.
As a result, they cannot supply products to the customers in time and the payment remains due.
It has become tough to survive in the competitive market running generators with high cost, he said further.
Rice trader and miller Abu Taher Mondal said due to lack of power supply, production of rice is decreasing.
If they cannot run business properly this season, it might be risky for their income of the whole year.
Sarwardy, Rajibpur Palli Bidyut Samity in-charge, said load shedding has increased as two power stations of the region remained shut.
The problem will be solved immediately, he hoped.
An official of the Samity, seeking anonymity, said the power supply in the upazila is controlled from the Sherpur-Bakshiganj Power Station.
It is also a cause of load shedding.
Rajibpur Upazila Project Implementation Officer Sirajuddaula said though power cuts are increasing, price of electricity is also rising day by day.
