Frequent power outages hamper production in Rangpur factories

Frequent power outages at Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant are hampering production in mills and factories of Rangpur.

Sources said the region is facing power disruptions frequently as the plant’s contribution of 525 MW of electricity to the national grid has fallen short abruptly.

Northern Electric Supply Company’s Rangpur zone Chief Engineer Shahadat Hossain Sarker said the demand for power supply had increased in eight districts of Rangpur due to the increasing number of consumers and business growth.

“Some 850 MW of power is required to be supplied to eight districts. Of this, some 525 MW was being supplied to the national grid from Barapukuria power plant. But supply fell short suddenly due to technical glitches,” he said.

“Rangpur was supposed to get 150 MW of power from the plant, but we have been receiving only 76 MW for the last four days due to sudden disruptions,” he said.

He also said technicians were trying hard to fix the problem, and supply would be restored soon.

Mohammad Shajahan, a resident of Nurpur area of the city, said they had been experiencing frequent power outages during the day amid the hot spell.

Frequent low voltage is disrupting the smooth functioning of electric appliances and also harming those, he said.

Maliha Jahan, a tenth-grader, said it had become tough for students to attend classes amid the hot weather during load shedding.

Manager of City Filling Station Ashraful Islam said frequent power disruptions hamper their business.

“We need to turn on the auto generator to fuel vehicles during load shedding.’’

Citizens for Good Governance Rangpur city unit President Faqrul Anam Benju said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had recently inaugurated four new power plants in the country to ensure 100 per cent electricity supply across the country.

“But it is unfortunate that Rangpur has been facing power shortages. We demand an immediate solution to the crisis,” he said.

Mahabub Rhaman Habu, public relation advisor of Karuponno, an export-oriented handicrafts factory, said the factory runs round the clock to meet delivery deadlines of international buyers.