A journalist from Sakhipur called and told the sad story of his area. The entire upazila has been without electricity for 24 hours straight since April 23. However, this problem is not limited to one day; the picture is almost the same every day. Electricity is available for only 3 to 4 hours a day. The situation has become such that people no longer say 'power is gone', but 'when will it come back'-that is now the main topic of discussion.
In fact, in the socio-economic context of Bangladesh, electricity is no longer a luxury, but a key component of survival. The massive expansion of the electricity sector in the last decade painted colorful dreams in our eyes. The news of electricity reaching every household was a great relief. But unfortunately, that dream is now being overshadowed by the thick black shadow of load shedding. The severity of the electricity crisis that we have been witnessing, especially in the last two years, has pushed our development and livelihood into a deep uncertainty. The most cruel aspect of this crisis is 'inequality' - the glaring gap between cities and villages.
Outline of the statistics and realities of the crisis- According to the Power Cell, the current electricity generation capacity in the country is around 30,000 MW (including imported electricity). But this huge capacity in the books and pens is defeated by the harsh reality. Currently, the peak-hour demand for electricity in the country is around 16,500 to 17,500 MW. But due to the energy crisis, the generation is around 13,000 to 14,000 MW. That is, there is an average daily deficit of 3,000 to 4,000 MW.
If we visualize this statistic through a chart or graph, we can see that while our 'installed capacity' or production capacity line has risen steeply in the last five years, the 'actual production' or actual production line has fallen far below. This huge gap between capacity and production is what experts are calling the 'death trap' of the power sector. The main reason for this is the energy crisis and the huge 'capacity charge' being charged for idle power plants.
The disparity between light and darkness between cities and villages-
The gap between rural and urban areas in terms of electricity distribution has now reached an inhuman level. In big cities like Dhaka and Chittagong, the government tries to control load shedding. There may be 3 to 4 hours of power outage in DESCO or DPDC areas. But in rural areas, where the Rural Electricity Board (REB) supplies electricity, the picture is completely different.
This year's summer has seen load shedding for 10 to 12 hours a day in many parts of the rural areas. When the mercury crosses 40 degrees, city dwellers find some relief under AC or IPS, while the common people, children and the elderly in the villages swelter in the heat. One of the most alarming aspects of this disparity is its impact on the productive sector. A comparative case study makes the point clear:
o City case study: Residents of a mess or flat in Mirpur, Dhaka may be complaining about 2 hours of load shedding disrupting their studies or freelancing work. This is definitely a problem, which is reducing their productivity.
o Village Case Study: Life is even harder for Rahmat Ali (pseudonym), a farmer from Nilphamari in North Bengal. His two bighas of land are irrigated by deep tube wells. Due to load shedding, he does not get water during the day. When electricity comes back at 2 am, he has to go to the fields late at night, ignoring the fear of snakes. Also, due to low voltage, his irrigation pump motor often burns out. This loss is not only for Rahmat Ali, it is a blow to the country's food security.
Economic impact: Crisis of small and medium industries- The MSME (Small and Medium Enterprises) sector is the most affected due to load shedding. The weaving industries and small factories of Savar, Narsingdi or Kushtia are now facing destruction. Let's take the case of a power loom owner in Narsingdi. If there is no electricity in his factory for 8 hours a day, production decreases by half. However, he has to pay the salaries of the workers and the installments of the bank loan.
Statistics show that in the last one year, the cost of production in the industrial sector has increased by about 25-30 percent simply due to the use of generators or diesel as an alternative source. This additional cost is ultimately being passed on to the consumers, which is further fueling inflation. The contribution of the industrial sector to the overall GDP growth of the country is at great risk due to this lack of uninterrupted power.
Budget and policy dilemmas-
The proposed budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 has allocated about Tk 22,520 crore for the power and energy sector. However, experts say that the bigger problem than the allocation is its management. In recent years, a huge amount of money has been spent on building new power plants, but no dollar resources have been allocated to import the fuel (gas or coal) required to run those plants.
The most controversial issue in the power sector is the 'capacity charge'. In the last 15 years, more than 1 lakh crore taka has been spent in this sector just to keep the plants in place. The government has recently repealed the 'Special Provisions Act', which is a positive step. Now it is necessary to purchase power at competitive prices through open tenders and reconsider the unequal agreements with Adani or other foreign companies.
Energy security and the search for alternatives- Our power crisis is rooted in over-dependence on imports. We have grossly neglected our own gas exploration in the last two decades. Although there is a possibility of huge gas resources under the Bay of Bengal, we are lagging behind in extracting them. Now is the time to harness the 'blue economy' or marine resources.
Besides, there is no alternative to renewable energy. The cost of solar and wind power in the world is now lower than coal or gas. In the context of Bangladesh, it is possible to reduce the pressure on the 'national grid' by installing solar panels on the roofs of every house and uncultivated land. It is important to realize why we cannot achieve the revolution in solar power that countries like Vietnam or India have achieved.
Long-term roadmap for transition-
To get rid of load shedding, we need to adopt a three-pronged strategy:
1. Energy diversification: Instead of relying solely on imported LNG or coal, gas extraction from our own mines should be accelerated. The plan to drill at least 40-50 new wells should be implemented quickly.
2. Modernization of transmission lines: Although we often have the capacity to generate electricity, it cannot reach the consumer level due to weak transmission systems. Smart grids and prepaid meters must be ensured 100% to prevent system losses and power theft.
3. Balanced distribution and priority: If load shedding is to be done, it should be distributed evenly between cities and villages. Agricultural seasons and industrial areas should be declared as 'load shedding free zones'. Keeping only VIP areas or big cities lit while leaving villages in darkness is not a sustainable solution.
Load shedding will also occur in Dhaka
Meanwhile, the government has decided to conduct load shedding in the capital on an experimental basis to resolve the energy crisis and reduce the disparity in electricity distribution between urban and rural people. This information was announced by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit in a statement given under Rule 300 in the National Parliament session on Thursday (April 23).
The State Minister said that due to the lack of adequate energy supply, load shedding is currently taking place in some parts of the country. In order to bring the situation to a tolerable level, this experimental load shedding is also going to start in the capital Dhaka on the advice of the Prime Minister and based on discussions with the opposition leader. The State Minister said in clear terms, "It is not desirable for the people of the city to be comfortable and the people of the village to be in trouble." He also highlighted the various steps taken by the government to resolve the energy crisis in the session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. A significant political debate has erupted in the National Parliament over the government's announcement of experimental load shedding in Dhaka. Opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has proposed that if load shedding is implemented across Dhaka, then the National Parliament Building should also be brought under it. His argument is that if the center of state governance is outside this system, the message of equality will not reach the people. He said that if power is cut off for an hour in other parts of the country, then the same rule should be applied in the Parliament as well, so that it is understood that everyone is part of the same reality.
In addition, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has decided to form a 10-member high-level committee comprising members of the government and opposition parties to formulate long-term recommendations to address the ongoing crisis in the country. Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmud has been announced as the chairman of the committee. The names of five members have already been proposed from the government party.
The Prime Minister also requested the opposition to provide the names of five members. In view of this, the opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman assured to provide the names as soon as possible. It is worth noting that the government party took the final decision to form this committee based on the proposal raised by the opposition leader on the energy crisis last Wednesday.
Load shedding is not just a technical glitch, it is a reminder of the failure of our planning. In a democratic state, the rights of urban and rural people to civic amenities are equal. If the benefits of development are limited to the high-rise buildings of the city and the huts of the village are plunged into darkness, then that development will never be universal.
The government needs to understand that the damage we are doing to agriculture and industry by saving electricity in the name of saving dollars will lead to a bigger economic crisis in the future. It is time to revamp the electricity sector through transparency, accountability and scientific planning. Will we be able to remove the darkness and build a truly 'illuminated Bangladesh'? The answer depends on our policy decisions in the future.
Author: Journalist, Columnist, arun.press@gmail.com
