Angry residents blocked roads and burned tyres at several places in Sunamganj on Monday evening protesting frequent load shedding and power disruptions.

The demonstrations began around 7pm at Jauwa Bazar, Chechan and Kalaruka areas, disrupting traffic on the Sylhet-Sunamganj highway and the Chhatak-Gobindaganj road.

Residents said frequent power outages in the Jauwa Bazar and Kalaruka feeder areas have disrupted businesses, students’ studies, office activities and daily life for a long time.

The protesters demanded an immediate end to load shedding and a permanent solution to the power crisis.

The blockade caused long tailbacks, with hundreds of buses, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, trucks and private vehicles stranded on both sides of the roads, causing severe suffering to commuters.

Some local consumers also alleged irregularities, corruption and harassment by Azim Uddin, assistant engineer in charge of the Kalaruka and Jauwa Bazar feeders. They alleged overbilling and demands for money for replacing faulty transformers.

Azim Uddin could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts to contact him by phone.

Hasan, a resident of Kaitak village, said, “The power problem has been going on for a long time. There is no certainty about when electricity comes or goes. People are fed up.”

Police, administration officials and local BNP leaders went to the spots and held discussions with the protesters to restore traffic.

The blockades at Jauwa Bazar and Chechan were withdrawn around 10:30pm, said Mostafa Kamal, in-charge of Jauwa Bazar Police Outpost.

Officer-in-Charge of Chhatak Police Station Mizanur Rahman said the blockade in Kalaruka was also withdrawn after discussions with the protesters.

However, sporadic protests and road blockades over power outages were reported from several parts of the district until around 10:30pm.