The daily life has turned into a struggle for residents across 21 southern districts, including Khulna, due to frequent power outages amid an intense heatwave, largely driven by fuel shortages linked to the Middle East crisis.
With temperatures soaring and electricity disappearing for hours at a stretch, common people, office-goers and students – particularly Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinees – are bearing the brunt of the worsening crisis.
Many residents say the frequent and prolonged power cuts in both day and night have left them frustrated and exhausted.
Customers in different areas reported that electricity supply is frequently interrupted for hours at a stretch, with outages even during early morning and midnight periods.
Md Mahfuz, a private bank employee at Shibbari intersection in Khulna city, on Thursday said repeated power disruptions were affecting office work.
“I came to the office as usual in the morning, but power has already gone out three times by noon. Work gets disrupted every time. When electricity is available, we can work in comfort, but during outages the office becomes extremely hot and unbearable,” he said.
Echoing Mahfuz, Nurjahan Khatun from Arash Nagar village in Dumuria upazila said the situation at home has become equally difficult.
“The sun is scorching and the heat is unbearable. Electricity goes out 8 to 10 times a day. It comes for an hour or so and then disappears again. People are getting sick due to the heat, and electronic appliances are also being damaged,” she said.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s Khulna office, the maximum temperature on Thursday was 37.5 degrees Celsius, compared to 36 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. Officials said the ongoing heatwave is intensifying the discomfort.
“Weather conditions indicate that the heatwave will continue today (Friday) as well, although there is a possibility of rain on April 25 or 26,” said Md Mizanur Rahman, in-charge of the Khulna Met office.
Officials from the West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd (WZPDCL) claimed that the crisis has deepened due to a supply shortage.
Md Abdul Majid, Chief Engineer (Energy, System Control and Services), said load-shedding has increased since Tuesday afternoon due to lower electricity supply.
“We are getting less electricity supply, so we are forced to provide less. This situation is linked to fuel shortages triggered by the global situation,” he said.
The WZPDCL is responsible for supplying electricity to 21 districts, covering parts of Khulna, Barishal, and Greater Faridpur regions. The company serves over 17,28,316 consumers in these areas.
At 3:00pm on Thursday, the supply stood at 619 MW against a demand of 756 MW, resulting in a shortage of 182 MW.
As the heatwave continues, residents say they see no immediate relief in sight, with both weather conditions and power shortages compounding their suffering.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit on Thursday told Parliament that the government has decided to introduce a trial of 110 megawatts of load-shedding in the capital to ensure uninterrupted electricity for irrigation and reduce the urban-rural disparity.