United News of Bangladesh

The daily life has turned into a struggle for residents across 21 southern districts, including Khulna, due to frequent power outages amid an intense heatwave, largely driven by fuel shortages linked to the Middle East crisis. With temperatures soaring and electricity disappearing for hours at a stretch, common people, office-goers and students – particularly Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinees – are bearing the brunt of the worsening crisis. Many residents say the frequent and prolonged power cuts in both day and night have left them frustrated and exhausted. Customers in different areas reported that electricity supply is frequently interrupted for hours at a stretch, with outages even during early morning and midnight periods. Md Mahfuz, a private bank employee at Shibbari intersection in Khulna city, on Thursday said repeated power disruptions were affecting office work. “I came to the office as usual in the morning, but power has already gone out three times by noon. Work gets disrupted every time. When electricity is available, we can work in comfort, but during outages the office becomes extremely hot and unbearable,” he said. Echoing Mahfuz, Nurjahan Khatun from Arash Nagar village in Dumuria upazila said the situation at home has become equally difficult. “The sun is scorching and the heat is unbearable. Electricity goes out 8 to 10 times a day. It comes for an hour or so and then disappears again. People are getting sick due to the heat, and electronic appliances are also being damaged,” she said. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s Khulna office, the maximum temperature on Thursday was 37.5 degrees Celsius, compared to 36 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. Officials said the ongoing heatwave is intensifying the discomfort. “Weather conditions indicate that the heatwave will continue today (Friday) as well, although there is a possibility of rain on April 25 or 26,” said Md Mizanur Rahman, in-charge of the Khulna Met office. Officials from the West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd (WZPDCL) claimed that the crisis has deepened due to a supply shortage. Md Abdul Majid, Chief Engineer (Energy, System Control and Services), said load-shedding has increased since Tuesday afternoon due to lower electricity supply. “We are getting less electricity supply, so we are forced to provide less. This situation is linked to fuel shortages triggered by the global situation,” he said. The WZPDCL is responsible for supplying electricity to 21 districts, covering parts of Khulna, Barishal, and Greater Faridpur regions. The company serves over 17,28,316 consumers in these areas. At 3:00pm on Thursday, the supply stood at 619 MW against a demand of 756 MW, resulting in a shortage of 182 MW. As the heatwave continues, residents say they see no immediate relief in sight, with both weather conditions and power shortages compounding their suffering. Meanwhile, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit on Thursday told Parliament that the government has decided to introduce a trial of 110 megawatts of load-shedding in the capital to ensure uninterrupted electricity for irrigation and reduce the urban-rural disparity.    

There is no possibility of immediate relief from the scorching heat in Bangladesh as the weather department had said rain is unlikely within three days. Kazi Jebunnesa, assistant meteorologist at the BMD, told UNB that there is no possibility of rain within the next three days and the ongoing heat wave will continue. Bangladesh Metrological Department (BMD) on Sunday (April 16, 2023) forecast that severe heat wave will continue in parts of the country like the past few days. Read more: Intense heat wave grips Dhaka, some other parts of country The heat wave is sweeping Dhaka, Faridpur, Manikgonj, Pabna, Bagerhat, Jashore, Chuadanga and Kushtia districts and mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping elsewhere over the country and it may continue. The season’s highest temperature of the country was recorded in Chuadanga at 42.2 degree Celsius while the lowest temperature was in Syedpur at 19.4 degree Celsius on Saturday. Day temperature may remain nearly unchanged and night temperature may rise slightly over the country, said a Met office bulletin. Read More: Intense heat wave grips Dhaka, some other parts of country Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country.

Drink plenty of water before stepping out in the scorching heat, as a mild heatwave is sweeping through the districts of Rajshahi, Madaripur, Chandpur and Bagerhat. The heatwave spell may spread further, the Met office said in its bulletin on Friday. Also read: Heat wave: Temperature hits maximum 41°C in Chuadanga "Besides, rain or thunder showers with intense lightning flashes and temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions; at a few places over Dhaka and Chattogram divisions and at one or two places over Khulna and Barishal divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country," it added. Day temperature may fall slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, as per the bulletin. The highest temperature was recorded at 36.8 degrees Celsius in Madaripur, while the minimum temperature was 20.8 degrees in Rajarhat of Rangpur district in the past 24 hours, the Met department said. Also read:Mild heat wave sweeping over parts of country Meanwhile, a low pressure area has formed over the Gulf of Martaban and adjoining Myanmar and now lies over the same area as a well-marked low.  The trough of low extends from Bihar to North Bay across West Bengal and adjoining southern part of Bangladesh persists, according to the bulletin.