Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has issued the following statement on 24^th May, 2017 expressing deep concern at the growing mass sufferings due to continuous severe load shedding nationwide.

“Amidst the extreme hot of the Bengali Joishtho month, continuous load shedding causes more trouble and sufferings to the general masses. Heat wave is flowing across the country including the capital Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet. Load shedding is also deepening the mass sufferings. People even can’t sleep at night due to scorching hot. Moreover, due to power shortages, the water cannot be managed through the water pump in domestic services. Mills and factories are going to be closed. Farmers cannot irrigate in the farm land. The students cannot study properly. Peoples, particularly the children are being affected by several diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery and heat stroke.

Some credible sources revealed, right now there are a huge deficiency of 3 thousand megawatt of electricity in the country. Bangladesh Power Development Authority also became compelled to admit that acute power crisis is going on nationwide and it would not be resolved in next one month. The problem could be more intensified in the upcoming holy month of Ramadan and that would be disastrous for the fasting people.

There is a huge difference between the PDB website information and the reality. According to their information, the demand of electricity on last 21^st May was 8,800 megawatt, whilst the production of electricity on that day was 8,830 megawatt. On 22^nd May, the demand was 7,878 megawatt and on the contrary power generation was 8,259 megawatt and on 23^rd May, power demand was 8,000 megawatt and production was 8,615 megawatt. If the given information is true, there is no need to make load shedding. But practically the entire nation is experiencing terrible load shedding. In the district and upazila level, electricity remains available only for 5/6 hours. Rest of the 19 hours are being passed through load shedding. These differences proved that there are massive loopholes within the PDB claimed information. They are deceiving the people with false and manipulated information.

There are around 3 thousand megawatts of electricity in the country now. The government is spending huge amount of money on power sector. The government is also spending more money to circulate its success in power generation. The countrymen want to know, as they are showing such a huge power production in documents, but the countrymen are not getting it. Then where the government’s money and generated power are going? This reality proved that the allocated money for power production actually is going to the pocket of the ruling party leaders and activists. False record and information are placed to facilitate the corruption of the ruling party men.

I am urging the concerned authorities to take effective steps to bring back peace in public life on emergency basis by curbing corruption in power sector and generating more power.”