Frequent load-shedding disrupts normal life at Jaldhaka

JALDHAKA, NILPHAMARI, Aug 19: Frequent power outages have made life miserable for residents of Jaldhaka Upazila in the district, with prolonged load-shedding at night making it difficult for people to sleep amid intense heat.

Residents said electricity goes out repeatedly during the day and night, disrupting household activities, education, businesses and government services. Children, elderly people and those who are sick are among the worst affected, particularly in rural areas.

During the day, many residents seek relief from the heat by sitting under trees, beside ponds or in open spaces. At night, when electricity fails, people gather along roads and in front of houses to escape the heat indoors. Some parents ride motorcycles or bicycles with their children in an effort to ease their discomfort.

Residents said load-shedding also has disrupted students’ studies and slowed work at government and private offices, banks, businesses, religious institutions and IT-based workplaces.

Habiba, a class four student at a government primary school in the Balagram area, said electricity frequently goes out during school hours, leaving students sweating and unable to concentrate.

The school’s head teacher said young children suffer particularly from frequent outages and urged authorities to ensure reliable electricity during school hours.

Basarat Morol, 55, a farmer from the same area, said he returned home early after going to pray because of the lack of electricity. “I thought I would sleep for an hour in the mosque after praying,” he said. “At night, I sleep on the veranda of a shop beside the road because it is too hot at home.”

Takim Uddin Sardar, 70, another farmer, said he struggles to sleep after working in the fields all day. “If I cannot sleep well at night, I get sick,” he said.

Residents said outages typically occur twice during the night, with electricity sometimes unavailable from 9 pm to 11 pm and again from midnight to 2 am. They said the interruptions have become particularly difficult during the current period of intense heat.

Jannatul Ferdous, a resident of the Gabrol Balapara area of Kaimari Union, said residents have become frustrated because they cannot predict when electricity will be available. “I cannot sleep at night,” she said. “The electricity comes and goes. Our situation is very miserable in the heat.”

Ankhi Akhter of the Kazirhat area said she is struggling to cope with the outages while caring for her children.
Residents also said prolonged outages have made it difficult to operate water pumps in some areas.

Power officials said electricity production nationwide has fallen short of demand, forcing authorities to impose load shedding in different areas. They said efforts are underway to coordinate power generation and distribution and stabilise the situation.

Officials said demand in Jaldhaka has increased amid high temperatures as residents use more fans, air conditioners, water pumps and other electrical appliances, widening the gap between supply and demand.

There have been reports of outages lasting eight to 10 hours a day in Jaldhaka. The prolonged outages have fuelled public anger, and officials of the Northern Electricity Supply Company (NESCO) and Palli Bidyut Samity have sought police assistance to protect their offices and substations.

Officer-in-Charge of Jaldhaka Police Station Nazmul Alam said plainclothes police personnel have been deployed to protect electricity facilities and that regular patrols are continuing.

Nilphamari Superintendent of Police Md Farhad Hossain Khan said he was unaware of any attacks on electricity offices and described the security situation in the district as normal.

Residents have called for immediate intervention by electricity authorities and the local administration, saying that if load shedding cannot be avoided, outages should be limited and scheduled outside peak night-time sleeping hours.

Experts say there is no immediate solution and that the government needs a specific action plan to address the widening gap between electricity demand and supply.