Frequent power cuts hit life in Lalmonirhat

Frequent load shedding amid intense summer heat has severely disrupted public life in Lalmonirhat, causing widespread suffering for residents, businesses and students, particularly SSC examinees.
According to the locals, power outages lasting three to four hours daily have made life difficult, especially at night, when heat and darkness become unbearable. Local trader Abul Kashem said the situation has worsened recently, forcing shops and small businesses to rely on costly generators to continue operations. 
The ongoing 2026 SSC and equivalent examinations have been significantly affected, with students struggling to concentrate due to repeated power cuts. Parents said the situation is hampering exam preparation.
Candidates Kulsoom, Rahima and Baby Akhtar said load shedding has become their biggest challenge during exams and urged authorities to ensure uninterrupted power supply for the remaining examination period.
In addition, healthcare services, factories and both public and private institutes are struggling due to power shortage. Grocery shopkeeper Kabir Hossain noted that children and elderly people are falling ill amid the extreme heat and lack of electricity.
Farmers are also affected. Dabiar Rahman from Rajpur Union in Sadar upazila said irrigation activities are being hampered, as electricity outages prevent timely water supply. 
He added that battery-run auto-rickshaw drivers are losing income due to the inability to charge vehicles, while small electricity-dependent businesses are facing stagnation.
Officials from the power department acknowledged the crisis, saying it is part of a nationwide energy shortage. Executive Engineer Fazlur Rahman of Power Development Board (PDB) Lalmonirhat said it is currently not possible to meet electricity demand due to energy shortage.