Severe flooding in southeastern Bangladesh has left the majority of customers in 12 districts without electricity. The Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources announced on Friday that floodwaters have breached several power grid substations, with some at risk of submersion.
In response, the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) have suspended electricity supply to the affected areas to ensure safety.
Feni is reported to be the hardest hit by the ongoing floods. A notice from the ministry confirmed that four substations in Feni have already been shut down due to rising floodwaters, with other substations in the area also at risk of being inundated.
In Brahmanbaria Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS), Senior General Manager Makbul Hossain stated that as of Friday morning, approximately 15,000 customers are without power. Electricity supply has also been suspended in eight border villages, with another seven villages near the Agartala border experiencing power cuts due to the floods.
Chattogram PBS-3 Senior General Manager Mridul Kanti Chakma reported that 65,000 customers in their jurisdiction are currently without electricity. The persistent floodwaters have made power supply too risky, leading to the suspension of electricity in these areas.
Noakhali PBS Senior General Manager Md Zakir Hossain indicated that although the rainfall has ceased, floodwaters remain at critical levels. Electricity has been cut off for 2,43,000 customers in the affected regions, and a substation in Begumganj Upazila has been closed due to the flooding.
In Cumilla, PBS-2 Senior General Manager Mohammad Mahmudul Haque reported that 1,63,255 customers are without power, with two substations shut down after floodwaters breached their premises.
Md Rezaul Karim, the newly appointed acting chairman of BPDB, informed the media on Friday that floodwaters had reached a substation in Chauddagram Upazila of Cumilla, coming into contact with the transformer. To prevent further risk, the substation was closed, leaving approximately 20,000 customers without electricity.
He assured that while significant damage has not yet been reported, the team is prepared for any additional challenges. All leave for BPDB’s regional office staff has been cancelled to address the ongoing flood emergency.
