CHATTOGRAM, Apr 25: The entire Chattogram division is reeling under acute load shedding, disrupting daily life during the peak summer season.
Frequent outages have made April particularly difficult for residents, with many areas experiencing power cuts lasting around 10 hours a day - at times stretching beyond 12 hours. The situation is more severe in rural areas than in the city.
Despite Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) data indicating a shortfall of 76-109 megawatts, actual load shedding is estimated to exceed 200MW on many days.
According to BPDB sources, generation at several power plants under the Chattogram distribution network has remained suspended for extended periods. The ongoing SSC examinations have further intensified concerns, as students struggle to study amid persistent outages.
Of the 28 furnace oil-, coal- and hydro-based power plants in the region, a significant number are either partially operational or completely shut due to mechanical faults and fuel shortages. Some plants are operating only during night-time hours.
Although the region's installed generation capacity exceeds 4,600MW, actual output has dropped to nearly half. On April 20, generation stood at 2,152.70MW during off-peak hours and 2,349.50MW during peak hours.
Peak demand typically occurs between 5pm and 11pm - the period when load shedding is most severe - while off-peak hours run from 11pm to 5pm the following day.
BPDB data shows that several plants, including Baraka and Dohazari, remain shut during the day and operate partially at night. A number of private plants, such as those in Julda and Judiak, are not generating electricity at all.
At the Kaptai Hydropower Plant, only one of its five units is operational due to low water levels in the lake. Meanwhile, two 210MW units at the Raozan Thermal Power Plant remain largely inactive - one due to mechanical faults and the other due to gas shortages.
The Chattogram distribution region, which also covers Cox's Bazar and the three hill districts, has an average daily demand of 1,300-1,400MW. However, officials say the supply from the national grid falls short, contributing to persistent load shedding.
Officials attribute the situation to a combination of fuel shortages and maintenance issues, which have prevented most plants from operating at even half of their capacity.
A BPDB official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said power generation in the region has declined significantly due to ongoing oil and gas constraints, limiting the ability of plants to operate at full capacity.
