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বাংলা E-Paper 📍 Dhaka 📅 Thursday | 13 August 2026, 29 Srabon 1433

HEADLINE

● Mirza Fakhrul steps down from BNP posts ● Auto-rickshaw charging triggers midnight power crisis, says Minister ● Messi hints at retirement following father's death ● Trump's physical health under scrutiny after US doctor's review ● BNP to submit presidential candidate nomination to EC today ● Bangladesh bowl out Australia for 198 ● Dhaka court grants bail to actress Tanjin Tisha

Battery rickshaws, e-bikes driving up power demand: Energy minister

Published : Thursday, 13 August, 2026 at 2:54 PM

Observer Online Report

Power demand remains around 18,000 megawatts even after midnight, with battery-powered rickshaws and e-bikes contributing significantly to the demand, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said on Thursday.

He said many of the vehicles are charged at night, with a significant portion using illegal electricity connections. The government is conducting drives to disconnect such connections, he added.

The minister made the remarks while speaking virtually as the chief guest at a Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) event at BRAC Centre titled “Addressing Bangladesh’s Energy Crisis: Urgent Priorities and a Path towards a Sustainable Energy Future”.

Tuku also said the country was facing a gas shortage following an unexpected fire at a floating LNG terminal in Maheshkhali.

He said a major disaster was avoided after another LNG carrier near the terminal was quickly moved away following the technical fault and fire.

SKS

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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