Ashulia faces 41% power shortfall, disrupting homes and factories
The electricity crisis has worsened, with load-shedding occurring up to 8–10 times a day in some areas
Residents and industries in Dhaka's Ashulia area are grappling with frequent and prolonged power outages, severely disrupting daily life and industrial production amid soaring temperatures.
The electricity crisis has worsened, with load-shedding occurring up to 8–10 times a day in some areas, leaving households and factories struggling to cope. According to data from Dhaka Palli Bidyut Samity-1, some zones are facing a 41% shortfall in power supply.
The Jamgora and Yarpur areas, for instance, are receiving only 59 megawatts (MW) against a demand of 100MW.
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Siraj Khan, a laundry shop owner in Jamgora Kathaltola, told The Business Standard on Saturday, "I used to iron 100–120 clothes a day. Now, I can barely manage 20 due to constant power cuts." He noted that power is only available for two to three hours daily, and outages continue even late into the night.
Shamim Hossain, a local pharmaceutical employee, added, "Even our IPS can't keep up. There's no time to recharge it between outages."
While most of Ashulia faces crippling power issues, areas near the Palli Bidyut office seem to fare slightly better. Resident Mithu Shamsuzzoha mentioned experiencing shorter, less frequent outages—typically three to four times a day, each lasting under an hour.
Industries in the region are also bearing the brunt of the crisis.
M Khorshed Alam, chairman of Little Star Spinning Mills Ltd, reported power cuts lasting 9–11 hours a day. "Though we rely mainly on gas, electricity is essential for 20% of operations, which are now severely hampered," he said.
Akhtaruzzaman Laskar, senior general manager of Dhaka Palli Bidyut Samity-1, acknowledged the crisis. "There's no denying the situation. In Jamgora and Yarpur, supplied by the Kodda grid, there is a 41MW shortfall against a demand of 100MW. Overall, we're receiving 368MW against a demand of 491—showing a 123MW gap."
In contrast, areas under Dhaka Palli Bidyut Samity-3—including Savar, Hemayetpur, and Aminbazar—report relatively stable electricity supply. Outages there are infrequent and short.
Md Sakhawat Ullah, senior vice president of the Bangladesh Tanners Association, noted, "Load-shedding is minimal in the Hemayetpur leather industrial zone, and the situation remains tolerable."
DPBS-3 Assistant GM Shahaduzzaman said, "We supply up to 300MW against a demand of around 330–335. Except for occasional overloads, the situation is under control."
