The Power Division has taken a hard line to close shops and shopping malls after 8pm to overcome the ongoing power and energy crisis across the country, an official said.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid on Tuesday said that shops, shopping malls will have electricity disconnected if they are open after 8pm. The Power Division will strictly monitor the government’s decision. Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited-DPDC has already started monitoring since Monday night.
The state minister made the announcement in a post on his verified Facebook page, where he wrote, on Monday that the DPDC team conducted raids in several areas including Baitul Mukarram, Dainik Bangla, Paltan, and Fakirapul in the capital. They initially requested all, through miking, to turn off the lights. Those who didn't heed had their electricity connection snapped.
"This warning applies to everyone, equally. I urge all to cooperate with us," Nasrul Hamid wrote.
Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and other power distribution companies will also conduct this campaign across the country, said the officials.
Asked, DPDC Managing Director Engineer Bikash Dewan told Bangladesh Post, “We have informed every zone to patrol with vehicles after 8pm. Initially the request will be made, those who will not heed, their electricity connection will be disconnected.”
“DPDC will properly follow the instructions given by the government to save energy. As part of this, our team conducted raids in some areas of the capital on Monday night. They disconnected the electricity connection of 40 shops during the raids. The operation will continue until further orders from the government,” he added.
The government had decided to introduce an area-based power cut programme for one hour between 5pm and 11pm daily, which is already being implemented from Tuesday. After a week of observation, the length of load shedding may be increased or decreased.
According to the government instructions, shops and shopping malls will have to close down by 8pm. If any consumers violate the decision, the electricity connection will be cut. Besides, the government has stopped the generation of all diesel-run power plants across the country.
Shutting down diesel-run power plants and keeping petrol pumps closed for a day every week will reduce fuel import by 20 percent, which will save a huge amount of foreign exchange.
The government has also decided to cut regular office timings for government and private sectors, but the schedule is not finalized yet.
Nasrul Hamid said, "These measures, forced by the Russia-Ukraine War, are not long-term. We have to be cost-effective. Industries and businesses are priorities when it comes to electricity supply.”
Bangladesh has been grappling with a power crunch as the war in Ukraine continues to drive up the cost of fuel in the international market.
The state minister had previously suggested hiking fuel prices in the country to keep in step with the global market.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also stressed the need for austerity in electricity consumption as rising costs forced a rollback in power production.
However, Petrobangla officials said that the only remedy is meeting demand when fuel price falls in the global market.
