Mehedi Hasan Shaon, Ashulia (Savar) 

Due to reduced electricity supply from the national grid, frequent and prolonged load shedding, especially during the late-night hours, has severely impacted the daily lives of residents in various parts of Ashulia. In addition to daytime blackouts, uninterrupted power cuts from midnight to early morning have led to health risks from insufficient sleep, along with growing concerns about the security of homes and businesses.

Residents of areas such as Baipail, Palashbari, Kaichabari, Jamgora, Bhadail, and Kurgaon in Nabinagar reported multiple power cuts daily. They stated that the situation becomes intolerable at night. Children and the elderly are suffering the most. The intense heat has made it difficult to stay indoors, while going outside at night is not safe.Naziba Elham, a student, said, “The HSC exams are next month, and currently, we’re sitting for model tests. Due to load shedding, I can’t properly prepare for my exams.”Kishore, a garment worker, shared, “After working all day, I just want to rest, but when the power goes out in the middle of the night, I can’t sleep. The heat is unbearable, and I end up tossing and turning all night. Then I must go back to work in the morning, still sleepy and unable to focus. My health is deteriorating.”Local businessman Shahidul Islam said, “Since there is no power for most of the day, many perishable items in the fridge are getting spoiled, causing financial losses. The absence of power at night raises serious concerns about the safety of shops and businesses. The risk of theft and robbery increases. While some people are trying to find alternatives, it’s difficult for ordinary citizens to afford or manage them.”Regarding the issue, Akhtaruzzaman Laskar, General Manager of Dhaka Palli Bidyut Samity-1, said, “Due to high demand during summer and reduced supply from the national grid, we’ve had to implement area-based load shedding. We are trying our best to reduce the frequency and hope the situation will improve soon.”

Meanwhile, residents have demanded that load shedding follow a specific schedule so they can plan their activities accordingly.