Frequent power outages have severely disrupted daily life in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj, causing widespread public frustration as residents struggle with prolonged load-shedding amid rising temperatures.
In Rajshahi, power cuts have intensified again after a brief period of improvement. Residents say electricity is unavailable for long hours throughout the day, affecting households, businesses, educational activities, and public services.
Although authorities concerned estimate load-shedding at around 35%, consumers claim the actual situation is far worse, with many receiving electricity for less than half of the day. Rural areas are facing even greater hardship, with some villages reportedly getting fewer than six hours of power daily.
The worsening situation has sparked public anger, particularly because electricity bills have increased in recent months. Many consumers argue that despite paying higher bills, they continue to endure unreliable service and frequent interruptions. The ongoing heatwave has compounded the crisis, making conditions especially difficult for children, elderly people, and those with health problems.
Business owners say the outages are causing significant financial losses. Retailers report difficulty serving customers during repeated power interruptions, while restaurants and other small enterprises are being forced to shorten operating hours. Many business operators fear that continued load-shedding will further reduce sales and threaten their livelihoods.
Consumers have also complained about unusually high electricity bills. Several households reported that monthly bills have nearly doubled despite reduced power usage resulting from frequent outages. Concerns have also been raised about prepaid meter fees and demand charges, which many customers consider unjustified.
According to power sector officials, the crisis is largely driven by a sharp increase in electricity demand caused by extreme temperatures. However, national power generation and supply have not increased sufficiently to meet demand, leading to significant shortages across the region.
The Northern Electricity Supply Company (NESCO) reported that Rajshahi city required 151 megawatts of electricity on June 17 but received only 111 megawatts from the national grid, resulting in a shortfall of 40 megawatts. NESCO Chief Engineer Ziaul Islam said the company is distributing all available electricity, but cannot fully meet consumer demand because of limited allocations from the national grid. He added that meaningful improvement is unlikely unless national power production rises.
Chapainawabganj is facing a similar situation, with repeated outages affecting both urban and rural communities. Farmers are among the hardest hit, as irregular electricity supply is disrupting irrigation during a crucial cultivation period. Residents across several areas report power cuts throughout the day and night, making normal life increasingly difficult.
The outages are also affecting offices, commercial activities, and entertainment. Football fans have complained of missing important matches due to sudden power interruptions, while shop owners and service providers report declining productivity and reduced customer traffic.
Power officials in Chapainawabganj say electricity demand continues to exceed supply by a considerable margin. Local NESCO offices have reported shortages of up to 10 megawatts, while the local rural electrification authority estimates it is receiving 30 to 40% less electricity than required during peak hours.
