Severe power outage disrupts life at Dhanbari

MADHUPUR, TANGAIL, Sept 1: Frequent power outages caused by an electricity shortage in Dhanbari Upazila of the district are disrupting students’ studies and causing financial losses for businesses.

Students are losing concentration because electricity is often unavailable when they need to study. Businesses that depend on electricity are also at risk of mounting losses. The intense heat is making daily life difficult and contributing to illnesses, with children and elderly people particularly affected.

Residents said electricity is available for an average of only about eight hours a day, with outages lasting two to two and a half hours at a time. People in rural areas sometimes remain without electricity for as long as 12 hours a day, they said.

Students and business owners are among those suffering most. Battery-powered easy-bike and van drivers have been particularly affected because they cannot charge their batteries on time, cutting their income by nearly half.

Naimul Hasan, deputy general manager of the Dhanbari Palli Bidyut zonal office, said the upazila requires 15-16 megawatts of electricity daily but is currently receiving only 9-11 megawatts from the national grid, forcing authorities to impose load shedding.