Dhaka, April 17, 2026 — Bangladesh is experiencing a sharp decline in electricity supply, with availability dropping to nearly half of national demand, resulting in widespread load shedding of up to 8–9 hours per day across the country.
The crisis has been largely attributed to disruptions in global fuel supply caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has significantly affected power generation.
Severe Load Shedding Across Regions
Power distribution companies struggled throughout Thursday (April 16) to maintain supply from morning to evening. Although load shedding was scheduled for one hour in different areas, actual outages often exceeded two hours. The situation is particularly severe outside Dhaka, where many areas are experiencing 8–9 hours of daily power cuts.
Chattogram: Up to 7–8 Hours Without Power
In Chattogram, residents are experiencing 7–8 hours of daily load shedding, with rural areas facing even longer outages.
A Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) official, Assistant Director (Public Relations) Mohammad Akbar Hossain, said power cuts have increased in recent days due to rising demand. “We are carrying out load shedding of around six to seven hours daily in Chattogram. During off-peak hours, the shortfall is about 111 megawatts, but it increases further during peak hours when demand rises,” he said.
Barishal: Supply Meets Only Half of Demand
Barishal is experiencing 5–6 hours of daily load shedding, as only about 40–50 percent of electricity demand is being met.
Executive Engineer Manjur Kumar Swarnakar said, “The demand in my area is around 78.5 megawatts, but we are receiving only 50 megawatts. As a result, we have no option but to carry out load shedding.”
Another Executive Engineer, Manjurul Islam, added, “In my jurisdiction, demand is 39 megawatts, while supply is only 21 megawatts. Under these conditions, load shedding is unavoidable.”
Mymensingh: 325 MW Shortfall
In the Mymensingh region, which includes six districts, daily demand stands at around 1,075 megawatts, while supply is limited to 750 megawatts, creating a shortfall of 325 megawatts.
Power Grid Bangladesh official Masudul Haque said load shedding varies throughout the day. “Demand fluctuates at different times, and so does load shedding. It is lower during off-peak hours and higher during peak hours,” he said.
He added that local power plants are generating far below capacity due to gas shortages and increased furnace oil prices. “A plant that is supposed to generate 210 megawatts is currently producing only around 30 megawatts. Other plants are also generating significantly less due to fuel constraints,” he noted.
Sylhet: Continuous Load Shedding
Sylhet is experiencing load shedding throughout the day and night, with residents reporting outages lasting up to 9–10 hours daily.
Chief Engineer Mohammad Imam Hossain of BPDB said, “Due to insufficient supply compared to demand, we are carrying out around 20–25 percent load shedding in Sylhet. This is not limited to Sylhet; it is happening across the country due to the global energy crisis.”
Rangpur: Hourly Power Cuts
In Rangpur, electricity outages are occurring almost every hour, with rural areas facing up to 10–12 hours of load shedding daily.
A Northern Electricity Supply Company (NESCO) engineer, Shamsul Islam, said, “We are receiving less electricity than required from the national grid. As a result, we are forced to implement load shedding.”
Khulna: Supply Drops Below Half
In Khulna, electricity supply has fallen below half of demand in many areas, leading to frequent outages of up to 10 hours or more.
Officials from the West Zone Power Distribution Company (WZPDCL) said that during peak hours, the supply deficit remains significant, forcing repeated power cuts across the region.
Causes: Fuel Crisis and Reduced Generation
Energy officials say the main cause of the crisis is reduced fuel supply and rising global prices, particularly for gas and furnace oil. As a result, several power plants are operating at limited capacity.
Although the Rampal Power Plant continues to produce around 1,250 megawatts, overall national generation remains insufficient to meet demand.
Growing Hardship Nationwide
The power shortage is disrupting daily life, industrial production, and education. Students preparing for upcoming Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations are facing difficulties due to frequent outages, especially at night.
With temperatures rising and demand increasing, authorities warn that the situation may worsen unless fuel supply stabilizes.
For now, millions of people across Bangladesh continue to endure prolonged load shedding, highlighting the country’s vulnerability to global energy shocks.
