80 rural power cooperatives seek security from IGP

Prolonged load-shedding in rural areas amid the ongoing fuel crisis has fuelled public anger in several parts of the country, with incidents of attacks and vandalism reported at power plants, substations and offices.

Against this backdrop, the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Association has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) seeking enhanced security at the facilities of the country’s 80 rural power cooperatives.

The letter, signed by the association’s office secretary Mahbubur Rahman, was sent to the IGP on Wednesday (12 August). A rural electricity official confirmed the matter.

The letter said power generation has fallen below demand due to the fuel crisis and severe heatwave, resulting in reduced electricity supply.

The situation has been particularly difficult in rural areas under the jurisdiction of the rural power cooperatives, where prolonged load-shedding has triggered growing public resentment.

It also said power substations and offices in some areas had come under attack and been vandalised, creating fear and insecurity among officials and employees on duty.

According to the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Association, around 80 per cent of the country’s electricity consumers—nearly 40 million people—receive power through rural power cooperatives.

They also distribute around 60 per cent of the electricity generated nationally across their service areas.

The letter said the combined average electricity demand of the 80 rural power cooperatives had stood at around 8,000-9,000 megawatts in recent days.

Against this, they received an average of only 5,000-6,000 megawatts, resulting in load-shedding of eight to 12 hours a day in some areas.

Under the circumstances, the association requested that the local law enforcement agencies be instructed to strengthen security at grids, substations and offices under each rural power cooperative.

Copies of the letter were also sent to the private secretaries to the Minister and State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, the private secretary to the Power Division secretary and the private secretary to the chairman of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board.

Copies were also sent to deputy commissioners, superintendents of police, rural power cooperative officials, upazila nirbahi officers and officers-in-charge of local police stations.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit has identified the shortage of gas as one of the key reasons behind the ongoing electricity crisis.

Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Wednesday, he said gas-fired power plants were unable to generate electricity according to demand because of inadequate gas supplies.

He said the government had begun working on a new strategy from Tuesday evening to address the situation and expressed hope that the power situation would improve to some extent from Wednesday evening.

Amid the recent gas shortage, nationwide load-shedding has exceeded 3,000 megawatts, with rural areas bearing a disproportionately large share of the impact.

The state minister said adverse weather in the Bay of Bengal had prevented the unloading of new LNG at Summit’s floating LNG terminal.

Meanwhile, Excelerate Energy’s LNG terminal has also been unable to operate at full capacity following an accident.

The government is also negotiating with Malaysia to increase gas supplies and hopes to secure at least one LNG cargo from the country, he said.

Importing LNG through specialised tanks is also being considered.
The government views these initiatives as both immediate and medium-term measures, the state minister said, adding that it was exploring all possible alternatives in consultation with experts and businesses to address the electricity and gas crises.

Asked about the letter seeking security for electricity facilities, the state minister said it had not been sent by the ministry.