Widespread Power and Network Outage Hits Two Upazilas

Residents of Roaumari and Rajibpur upazilas in Kurigram district have been enduring severe disruption as electricity and mobile network services remained largely suspended for nearly three consecutive days. From Saturday (25 April) until Monday (27 April) at around 2:00 pm, both areas have effectively remained cut off from reliable power and internet connectivity, bringing daily life to a near standstill.

Although electricity briefly returned for approximately 45 minutes on Sunday night, the relief was short-lived as the supply collapsed again shortly afterwards. Since then, households and businesses have been left struggling with intermittent or virtually no electricity at all.

Mobile connectivity has also been significantly affected. While a limited number of users reported access to one or two operators in parts of Roaumari, most networks remain non-functional, leaving the majority of residents disconnected from essential communication services.

Daily Life Disrupted Across Sectors

The prolonged outage has had a cascading impact on transport, education, banking, and small businesses. Battery-powered vehicles, widely used in the region, have largely ceased operation due to the inability to recharge, resulting in a severe transport shortage and inflated fares.

A summary of the key disruptions is presented below:

Voices from the Ground

Local resident Abu Hanif described the severity of the situation, stating that electricity is available for barely an hour a day, often with interruptions. He added that despite minimal consumption, residents continue to receive inflated electricity bills, adding to their frustration.

Another resident, Arif Hasan, highlighted the broader impact: “Without electricity, mobile networks have collapsed. We cannot access online services. Fuel supply has also been suspended for over two weeks, making transport even more difficult. With battery-run vehicles unable to charge, roads are nearly empty.”

Transport workers have been hit particularly hard. One battery-powered auto-van driver, Robiul, said his daily income has dropped drastically. “Earlier I could earn around 1,000 taka a day. Now I struggle to make even 150–200 taka. Without electricity, I cannot charge my vehicle. It has become extremely difficult to run my household.”

Students preparing for public examinations have also been severely affected. Many have been forced to study by candlelight, while transport shortages and inflated fares have made travelling to examination centres increasingly difficult. Some students reportedly had to walk back home after sitting for their SSC exams.

Banking and Business Stalled

In Char Shaulmari market of Roaumari, agent banking services have also been suspended. A local operator, Shahidul Islam, noted that 72 hours of continuous power failure had halted internet and Wi-Fi connectivity, effectively stopping all banking transactions and depriving customers of essential services.

Local journalists and residents further reported that long-standing fuel shortages and persistent load shedding have worsened the crisis, making information exchange and daily operations increasingly difficult.

Administrative Response

Roaumari Upazila Executive Officer (acting), Rafiur Rahman, stated that the issue of power disruption and load shedding has been communicated to higher authorities for urgent attention.

Similarly, Rajibpur Upazila Executive Officer (acting), Sayekul Hasan Khan, confirmed that both fuel and electricity shortages have been reported and that efforts are underway to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

Despite these assurances, residents continue to face an uncertain wait as essential services remain severely disrupted across both upazilas.