A deepening electricity shortage in Sylhet is disrupting daily life and placing increasing pressure on students preparing for national examinations as Bangladesh grapples with wider energy supply constraints linked to global market volatility.
Residents across the region report prolonged and frequent power cuts, with outages affecting both daytime and night-time hours. The situation has become particularly acute in the days leading up to the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, scheduled to begin later this month, leaving many students struggling to maintain study routines amid rising temperatures.
According to officials from the Bangladesh Power Development Board, electricity demand in Sylhet recently reached around 170 megawatts, while supply stood at approximately 130 megawatts. The resulting shortfall has forced authorities to implement load shedding across the district.
However, many residents say the impact on the ground is more severe than official figures suggest. In several areas, households have experienced extended outages lasting multiple hours at a time, with some reporting that electricity is unavailable for more than half of the day.
The strain is being felt most acutely by students preparing for their exams. With temperatures rising and ventilation limited during power cuts, maintaining concentration has become increasingly difficult. Families say that even when electricity returns briefly, the uncertainty of supply makes it challenging to plan study schedules effectively.
Local businesses are also facing mounting challenges. Shop owners report reduced operating hours due to both enforced early closures and intermittent electricity supply. In commercial areas, traders say repeated disruptions are cutting into sales and reducing customer footfall.
Industrial operators warn that the crisis is beginning to affect production. Many small and medium enterprises have turned to diesel-powered generators to maintain operations, but rising fuel costs and limited availability are adding to financial strain. For some, the cost of maintaining output now outweighs returns, raising concerns about potential shutdowns.
Energy experts point to a combination of factors behind the shortage, including reduced electricity generation linked to fuel supply constraints. The broader crisis in global energy markets—partly driven by instability in the Middle East—has affected fuel availability, limiting Bangladesh’s capacity to sustain consistent power generation.
Officials acknowledge that the situation may persist in the short term. Rising temperatures have driven up electricity demand, particularly for cooling, while supply has struggled to keep pace. Authorities have introduced a series of measures aimed at managing consumption, including adjusted office hours, early closure of shops and increased reliance on digital platforms for some activities.
Despite these efforts, residents say the cumulative impact of heat and prolonged outages is taking a toll, particularly on vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and those with health conditions.
In rural areas, where infrastructure constraints are more pronounced, the situation appears even more severe. Power cuts there are often longer and less predictable than in urban centres, further widening the gap in access to reliable electricity.
The challenges in Sylhet reflect a broader test for Bangladesh’s energy system, as it seeks to balance rising demand with constrained supply in an uncertain global environment. For now, with no immediate improvement in sight, households, students and businesses alike are being forced to adapt to an increasingly difficult power situation.
