Bangladesh is bracing for up to three hours of daily load-shedding as fuel shortages, worsened by the ongoing war in the Middle East, disrupt electricity generation. Despite having double the production capacity needed to meet demand, the country cannot produce enough power due to limited fuel supply. The government has ordered shopping malls and shops to close after 6 p.m. and shortened office hours by one hour to manage the crisis.

An internal analysis by the Power Development Board (PDB) indicates that if gas supply falls below 800 million cubic feet, power generation could drop below 4,500 megawatts. During April and May, electricity demand may reach 18,500 megawatts, while production could remain around 16,200 megawatts. On a recent public holiday, demand peaked at 14,350 megawatts, with load-shedding reaching up to 1,000 megawatts at night.

The situation may worsen if rainfall remains low and temperatures rise. The Meteorological Department forecasts multiple heatwaves in April, with temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius, potentially increasing electricity demand further.