Bangladesh has imposed stringent energy‑saving measures, including the early closure of universities, as rising global fuel costs driven by West Asia tensions strain the country’s import‑dependent power system ahead of peak summer demand.
The government has issued an 11‑point directive instructing public and autonomous institutions to cut electricity and fuel consumption, including limiting daytime lighting. Universities have been shut ahead of Eid holidays to reduce pressure on the national grid.
Peak electricity demand is expected to rise to 18,000–18,500 megawatts (MW) during the summer months. However, supply constraints have emerged well before the seasonal peak, exposing vulnerabilities in domestic generation and imported fuel supply.
Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) data showed that on March 8, power generation during the daytime peak stood at 12,624.34 MW against demand of 12,903.34 MW, leaving a shortfall of nearly 280 MW. During the evening peak, both generation and demand stood at 13,910.45 MW, indicating tight system management. Total demand across all zones reached 13,372 MW.
The impact has been uneven across regions. Northern Bangladesh, which has limited domestic generation capacity, relies heavily on imported electricity. BPDB data showed Rajshahi recorded demand of 1,322 MW and Rangpur 770 MW, despite the region lacking major power plants and depending largely on small gas‑based units.
In this context, cross‑border electricity supplied by Adani Power from India has played a stabilising role in the northern grid.
According to BPDB data for March 8, the Rajshahi zone generated 49.24 million kilowatt‑hours (kWh) of electricity, of which 33.19 million kWh — nearly two‑thirds — came from imported sources. The imported power is primarily supplied by Adani Power from its 1600 MW coal‑fired plant in India’s Jharkhand state.
Nationally, Adani Power accounts for around 10% of Bangladesh’s total electricity supply. In the northern region, it meets roughly 25% of total demand, making it the single largest external source of power for the area. Grid records showed Adani Power delivered its full derated capacity of about 1,436 MW during evening peak hours between March 1 and March 7, when demand was highest. Daytime supply ranged between 920 MW and 1,176 MW. Officials say power from the northern grid can also be redirected to central regions, including Dhaka, when demand allows.
The current measures highlight the growing gap between demand and domestic supply as Bangladesh approaches the summer peak, while underlining the role of cross‑border power imports in maintaining grid stability
