Wednesday, 19th August 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 19th August 2026, 5:41 PM
Bangladesh’s worsening power crisis, compounded by intense heat and shortages of gas, is disrupting the daily lives of students across the country. Prolonged load-shedding has become a growing obstacle to regular study, with many students struggling to concentrate during the day and facing interrupted sleep at night.
The crisis has been particularly severe in rural areas, where residents in some locations have reported going without electricity for 10 to 12 hours a day. Dhaka, which has traditionally experienced comparatively stable power supplies, has also begun to see load-shedding during the night in several neighbourhoods.
The situation is creating additional difficulties for students preparing for examinations, university admissions and regular academic activities. The Higher Secondary Certificate and equivalent written examinations for 2026 began on 2 July and ended on 8 August. Power supply disruptions were reported in several areas during the examination period. To ensure a suitable environment for candidates, scheduled load-shedding and power supply interruptions were suspended in Kurigram and Lalmonirhat from 29 July to 8 August.
Recent figures illustrate the scale of the electricity shortage. At midnight on 11 August, the national power deficit reached a peak of 3,592 megawatts. Demand stood at 17,523 megawatts, while only 13,931 megawatts were supplied.
The situation remained strained the following day. At 3pm on 12 August, the deficit was still 3,382 megawatts. On 9 August, the shortage had reached 3,671 megawatts at one point, rising further to 3,757 megawatts on 10 August.
The recent shortages have surpassed the previous record of 3,419 megawatts of load-shedding recorded on 27 June 2023.
The impact has been especially severe in rural communities. Residents in parts of Mymensingh have reported electricity outages lasting between 10 and 18 hours in some instances. Areas of Sylhet and Barishal have also experienced more than 10 to 12 hours of load-shedding.
The capital has not remained unaffected. Reports from 14 August indicated that several Dhaka neighbourhoods were experiencing one to two hours of power cuts at night. Areas including Bashundhara, Eskaton, Kazipara, Mouchak, Karwan Bazar, Panthapath, West Rajabazar and parts of Mohammadpur were among those reporting interruptions.
According to information from electricity distribution companies, average demand in areas served by the Dhaka Electricity Supply Company is around 2,100 megawatts. Demand in areas under the Dhaka Electric Supply Company is approximately 1,400 to 1,440 megawatts. Each distribution system has been facing average load-shedding of around 200 megawatts.
For students, the consequences extend beyond inconvenience. During the day, extreme heat makes it difficult to study without fans or cooling systems. At night, repeated power cuts raise indoor temperatures, making it harder to sleep and leaving students tired the following morning.
This can create a damaging cycle. Students lose valuable study hours during power cuts, while disrupted sleep reduces their ability to concentrate during classes and revision sessions the next day.
The problem is particularly serious for students who depend on digital learning. Online classes, recorded lessons, digital books, practice tests and university admission preparation all require access to electricity. When the power goes out, computers and mobile devices may become unusable, while internet-dependent activities can also be interrupted.
In some areas, students have reported that mobile network and internet services are also affected during power disruptions, adding another layer of difficulty to their studies.
Zinat Redwana, an honours fourth-year student of the National University in Mohammadpur, said electricity sometimes goes out even while classes are taking place. At home, repeated evening power cuts make it difficult to maintain interest in studying. She also said that inadequate sleep leaves her tired when attending classes the following morning.
The power shortage is closely linked to inadequate fuel supplies. Although Bangladesh has sufficient overall generation capacity to meet demand under normal operating conditions, a shortage of gas and other fuels means many power plants cannot operate at full capacity.
Recent figures show that gas-fired power plants require around 2,524 million cubic feet of gas a day. On 11 August, however, they received only 744 million cubic feet. As a result, 16 gas-fired and five oil-fired power plants were completely shut down, while another 34 plants were operating below capacity.
The gas supply situation became more difficult after problems emerged at a liquefied natural gas terminal in Maheshkhali towards the end of July. Supply was further affected when adverse weather conditions reduced deliveries from Summit’s floating liquefied natural gas terminal.
The result is a significant mismatch between available generation capacity and actual electricity production. Plants may have the technical ability to generate power, but without sufficient fuel they cannot produce at the required level. The resulting shortfall is then managed through load-shedding.
The power crisis is also intensifying the discomfort caused by heat and mosquitoes. In Dhaka, many residents keep their windows closed in the evening to prevent mosquitoes from entering. Yet closing windows can make already hot rooms more uncomfortable when fans and air-conditioning systems cannot operate because of power cuts.
The situation is particularly concerning amid the ongoing dengue outbreak. More than 17,880 dengue cases have been reported so far this year, with 59 deaths. Dhaka Division has recorded the highest number of cases and deaths. Health concerns surrounding dengue may also add to the anxiety of families already coping with heat and prolonged power interruptions.
For students, the combination of heat, mosquitoes and disrupted electricity affects both study and rest. A night without electricity can mean fewer hours of effective revision as well as poor-quality sleep before an important class or examination.
The effects of the electricity crisis extend well beyond homes and educational institutions. Agriculture, businesses and industries are also facing disruptions.
Long power cuts are affecting irrigation operations in rural areas. Shops, workshops, rice mills and other electricity-dependent businesses are experiencing reduced productivity. Some factories have had to reduce production or alter working schedules, while others are relying on fuel-powered generators at additional cost.
The consequences for students, however, are difficult to recover from. A factory may be able to make up for lost production time by extending its operating schedule. A student who loses several crucial hours before an examination may not have the same opportunity.
This is particularly significant for admission candidates and students preparing for major examinations, when study schedules are often built around specific daily targets.
Amid the shortage of gas and reduced electricity generation, the government has been urging consumers to use electricity more efficiently. Conservation measures have been strengthened as the country deals with pressure on gas supplies and repeated power interruptions.
State Minister for Power Anindya Islam Amit has also identified problems with gas supply as one of the factors affecting electricity generation. However, no specific timeframe has yet been given for when the power situation will return to normal.
The end of the HSC and equivalent written examinations has not brought an end to students’ need for reliable electricity. Those awaiting results, preparing for university admission tests, continuing higher education preparation or attending regular classes still depend heavily on a stable power supply.
Students who rely extensively on online classes and digital learning materials are particularly vulnerable. A power cut can interrupt a scheduled class, prevent access to study materials or disrupt an online assessment. Such interruptions can be especially difficult to compensate for when they occur during tightly planned examination preparation.
Saiful Islam, principal of Alipur Model College in Durgapur, Rajshahi, said repeated power interruptions were affecting both irrigation and students’ studies in rural areas. He also said HSC candidates had been affected by the electricity shortage and expressed concern that the disruption could have consequences for their examination performance.
The current situation therefore represents more than a routine problem of intermittent power cuts. A shortage of gas and other fuels is limiting electricity generation despite substantial installed capacity, creating consequences across education, agriculture, business and industry.
For students, the most immediate losses are valuable study time, adequate sleep and continuity in learning. With regular academic activities, university admission preparation and future examinations still ahead, restoring a more reliable electricity supply remains important.
How quickly gas and other fuel supplies can be stabilised will be a key factor in determining how rapidly the electricity shortage can ease. Until then, students in both urban and rural areas are likely to remain among those bearing the daily consequences of the country’s power crisis.
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