Bangladesh has begun experiencing widespread power outages even before the onset of summer due to a severe fuel shortage and rising electricity demand. On Sunday, the national grid supplied 12,894 megawatts against a demand of 13,530 megawatts, resulting in 607 megawatts of load shedding across the country. Officials from the Power Division and related agencies said that fuel shortages have limited electricity generation capacity, with oil-based power production dropping by nearly half within a day.

According to official data, gas-based plants are producing between 4,500 and 5,000 megawatts, while coal-based plants contribute about 4,000 megawatts. Imports from India’s Adani, Bheramara, and Tripura plants average 1,800 megawatts. The Power Development Board (PDB) owes around Tk 46,000 crore to power producers, including Tk 14,000 crore to private oil-based plants. The PDB has requested Tk 20,000 crore in emergency funds to maintain supply during the summer and irrigation season.

The government has also adjusted its energy-saving measures, allowing shops and malls to remain open until 7 p.m. instead of 6 p.m., following appeals from business owners.