During the last two summers, people of the country faced power cuts of more than three hours on an average every day. Load shedding of eight to ten hours also occurred at some places in the country. Despite the failure to ensure uninterrupted supply, overall costs of the power sector have increased due to unutilized excess power generation capacity, leading to increased subsidy pressure. To deal with the pressure, the government wants to adjust the subsidy. It has announced a gradual increase in electricity prices over the next three years. In the last one and a half decade, electricity prices have been increased 12 times at the wholesale level and 14 times at the retail level.
Speaking to Prothom Alo in this regard, Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) energy advisor M Shamsul Alam said, “The power sector is still dependent on nature. During summer, when electricity is needed the most, it is not available. “Despite increase in power generation capacity, the situation has not improved.”
[Prothom Alo correspondents from respective districts have helped prepare this report with information]
*This report appears on the online editions of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Ashish Basu.
