No let-up in load shedding

Load-shedding in most parts of Bangladesh is now a common affair. We are now facing hours-long power outage every day in sweltering heat. Load-shedding has also come back to Dhaka city. In the capital, residents now have to experience power cuts almost at every alternate hour. In villages, it is more frequent in the daytime. People in many areas held protest demonstrations and resorted to vandalism demanding an end to load-shedding. The prices of electricity have increased 13 times in the past 15 years. Price went up thrice in the first three months of this year, each time by 5.0 per cent. Still people are suffering due to load-shedding while the power plants are receiving rent sitting idle.

The painful load-shedding has hindered the socio-economic development of the country. Domestic life also has to confront this ordeal at a cost. Students can't prepare for exams. Sometimes medical tests cannot be done without electricity. Such tests are very important to find out the real condition of a patient. In fact, the importance of regular supply of power at every turn of our modern-day living cannot be overemphasised. So, the government should do something to put an end to the sufferings caused by intermittent power cuts.

Abu Elias Linkon,

Banasree, Dhaka,

lightening_sparkle@yahoo.com