Nationwide Power Shortages Ignite Protests and Attacks on Utility Infrastructure Across Bangladesh
Photo Collected
Across Bangladesh, intense heatwaves coupled with frequent and prolonged power outages have ignited widespread public unrest, leading to demonstrations, blockades, and attacks on electricity utility offices. As the nation faces a significant gap between electricity demand and supply, exacerbated by the ongoing FIFA World Cup, citizens in multiple districts have taken to the streets to protest what they describe as irregular billing and systemic mismanagement.
In Netrokona’s Kendua, frustrated residents staged an attack on the Palli Bidyut Samity office on Sunday, shattering windows after power was cut during an Argentina-Jordan World Cup match. Local officials reported that while the area requires 27 megawatts of power during peak hours, they are currently receiving only 7 megawatts. Similar tensions were reported in Sherpur, where utility officials have requested police protection after receiving threats from customers aggrieved by outages during tournament broadcasts.
বিজ্ঞাপন
The crisis has disrupted daily life across the country, prompting significant protests. In Tangail, residents of Delduar and Mirzapur blockaded the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway for an hour on Sunday, demanding consistent power supply. The protest created extensive traffic gridlock before utility officials arrived to negotiate an end to the demonstration. Meanwhile, in Dhaka’s Dohar, demonstrators surrounded the local Palli Bidyut office to protest against excessive “ghost” bills and erratic supply, briefly obstructing local traffic.
In Jhalakathi, civil society groups organized a human chain in front of the local press club to protest chronic load-shedding that has hampered both students and small businesses. In Sylhet’s Companiganj, the situation escalated when individuals reportedly entered a substation and forced a shutdown of the power line, prompting authorities to file a formal complaint. In Rajshahi’s Bagmara, residents intercepted a utility vehicle conducting an awareness campaign about power shortages, forcing the staff to retreat amid public anger.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Power utility departments have consistently attributed the instability to a nationwide supply deficit. Officials state that electricity demand has spiked due to extreme temperatures and high usage during the World Cup, yet supply remains at nearly half of the required capacity. In many regions, including Sherpur and Natore, utility providers are now seeking urgent government intervention and increased allocations to bridge the gap.
As authorities scramble to address the unrest, police and local administration officials have increased monitoring to prevent further violence against critical energy infrastructure. While utility officials insist that load-shedding is an unavoidable consequence of the current supply constraints, the ongoing protests underscore growing public impatience with the persistent energy crisis.
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