14-18 hours load shedding in Jamalpur daily, power office seeks security

Around 20 lakh people across seven upazilas of Jamalpur are facing severe hardship due to an acute power crisis amid intense heat. Due to lower supply compared to demand, load shedding is occurring for 14 to 18 hours daily, particularly in rural areas under the rural electrification board. This has caused heat-related suffering, water shortages and disruption to students' studies, leading to anger and dissatisfaction among consumers.

Facing public anger, the Jamalpur Rural Electrification Board has expressed concern over the security of its offices, substations and other important installations. To avoid any untoward incidents, the board sent a letter to the Jamalpur Superintendent of Police and local administration on Wednesday seeking enhanced security.

Jamalpur Rural Electrification Board Acting General Manager Md Shahidul Islam confirmed the matter on Friday afternoon.

The letter, signed by the board's general manager, stated that the average electricity demand in the Jamalpur Rural Electrification Board area is currently about 170 megawatts. In contrast, only 55 to 60 percent of that is being supplied from the national grid daily, leaving a deficit of about 90 to 95 megawatts per day.

As a result, consumers in some areas under the rural electrification board are facing load shedding for an average of 14 to 15 hours, with even longer hours in some areas. This has caused public anger and resentment, with protests already reported in various areas.

The letter stated that the situation could worsen and sought the administration's cooperation to ensure the security of electricity offices, substations and officials and employees.

Shahidul Islam said electricity offices and substations are important installations. If any problem occurs at these installations, thousands of consumers would be left without power. The current load shedding is not by the choice of the rural electrification board but due to lower supply from the national grid.

He said letters have been sent to the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, Upazila Nirbahi Officers and Officers-in-Charge of police stations seeking security and cooperation to manage the situation.

The Jamalpur Rural Electrification Board has 19 substations and 19 switching stations through which electricity is supplied to lakhs of consumers in various upazilas of the district.