Persistent load shedding coupled with water crisis has made civic life in Rajbari municipality including adjacent rural areas miserable at the very beginning of summer season.

On an average, people of Rajbari Sadar upazila along with neighboring five upazilas have been going through at least 12 hours of load shedding in a day for the last four weeks. In oppose to a daily power demand of around 20MW, largely 4.50MW has been supplied to the district.

Being agitated by the frequent power cuts locals in cooperation with district Mohila Parishad brought out a protest procession led by Lily Naher, president of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad of Rajbari unit, and paraded the main streets of the town.

At the end of the procession participants gave their speech regarding people’s sufferings. They said students have been suffering severely as they will sit for HSC examination from this week. Other students are suffering as well, as they were to go through different stages of exams over the year.

‘It hampers economic activities in the region, with industrial unit the worst-hit sector of the crisis.’

‘Power cuts create humanitarian disasters at hospitals where doctors find it difficult to continue operation due to long time power outage. In addition, water shortage caused by load shedding adds patients’ sufferings,’ speakers said.

Abdullah Al-Mamun, sub-assistant engineer of Rajbari municipality said, “We are facing water shortage everyday due to power outage from 6am to 2pm.”  

Md Aminur Rahman, executive engineer of Rajbari Power Development Board (PDB) said, “Against a demand of around 18-20MW we get only 4.50MW to 8 MW daily from Faridpur Power Supply Station leaving us to face power outage of around 12 hours a day.”