United News of Bangladesh

Residents of Raiganj upazila in Sirajganj on Saturday besieged a local rural electricity office and staged a demonstration in protest against prolonged power outages and severe load-shedding. The protest took place in front of the Dhangara office of the Palli Bidyut Samity in the afternoon. According to local sources, while Dhangara Bazar in Raiganj municipality has been receiving relatively uninterrupted electricity supply over the past few months, load-shedding has worsened significantly in the upazila's unions and villages. The power crisis has particularly affected the handloom industry in Laxmikola village, where mill owners and workers are facing heavy financial losses due to frequent outages. Students are also struggling to continue their studies because of the irregular power supply, prompting local residents to take to the streets and demand uninterrupted electricity. The protesters alleged that electricity remains available for only four to five hours a day, and even then, the supply lasts only for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Handloom workers said they often have to remain idle after reporting for work due to the lack of electricity. They claimed that weaving mills remain shut for nearly 20 hours a day because of power disruptions, severely affecting production. As a result, they said, they are unable to supply lungis, saris and towels to buyers on time, causing significant financial losses for both owners and workers. Nizamul Islam, Deputy General Manager of the Bhuiyangati Zonal Office of Sirajganj Palli Bidyut Samity-1, said local residents had besieged the office over excessive load-shedding. However, the situation returned to normal after the authorities assured protesters of efforts to ensure a more reliable electricity supply, he added.