Although power generation has increased further, still the country has been experiencing a huge load shedding.

According to data from National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) of the state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), the country generated a total of 15,648 MW at 9 pm on Wednesday surpassing the previous day's record of 15,626 MW.

The country had to experience a load shedding of 428 MW to meet a demand against 16096 MW.

However, many power industry insiders believe the country actually had to experience more load shedding, even more than 1000 MW.

They said the hot temperature has created extra demand that forced the authorities concerned to resort to huge load shedding across the country.

The BPDB said that of its total generation, some 6,252 MW was generated from gas-fired plants, 5,593 MW from liquid fuel-run plants, 2,668 MW from coal-fired plants, 70 MW from hydro, 923 MW from import through HVDC from India,142 from Tripura, and 744 from Adani group.

Load shedding amid intense heat wave makes life miserable in Khulna

Frequent power outages and scorching heat have made public life miserable in Khulna.

Locals said when they get home at night after working all day, they do not find peace as load shedding continues till late night. The residents are having restless nights because of load shedding in the sweltering heat.

The high temperature that soars up to 40 Celsius degree over the last few days is aggravating the plight of common people.

According to West Zone Power Distribution Company (WZPDC), the demand for power in 21 districts of the southern region during the peak hours on Saturday was 680 MW while the supply was 615 MW, i.e. load shedding was 65 MW.

At 300 pm on Sunday, the demand for electricity in 21 districts was 669 MW and the supply was 606 MW, i.e. load shedding was 63 MW. Load shedding on Sunday night was higher than on other days.

WZPDC's information was found to be relevant in social media posts. On Sunday night, there was a cry of despair on Facebook.

Al Amin Talukder Prince wrote, "It's 3:00 am. You can only hear children screaming around."

Bashir Hossain, a journalist, posted, "Load shedding five times since the evening. It didn't even last five minutes after an hour."

Arman Hossain, a resident of the Sheikhpara area of the city, said he experienced load shedding four times from evening to early morning.

Mostafizur Rahman, chief engineer of WZPDC, said their supply has been reduced from the center that forced them to resort to load shedding.

Meanwhile, Khulna recorded 41.3 degrees Celsius temperature on Sunday, the highest temperature in 23 years.

According to Khulna Meteorological Office , a severe heat wave is sweeping the Khulna division. Chuadanga and Jashore districts recorded the highest temperatures in the country on Sunday.

The maximum temperature was 41.8 degrees Celsius in Jashore and 41.3 degrees Celsius in Khulna on Sunday. Besides, Mongla in Bagerhat recorded 41.4 degrees Celsius, and Satkhira and Kumarkhali in Kushtia recorded 40.4 degrees Celsius.

Meteorologist Amirul Azad, in-charge of Khulna Meteorological Office, said, "The heat wave condition is likely to continue for another two-three days. After that, there is a possibility of rain in Khulna."

Rickshaw puller Siddique Mollah, a resident of Bagmara area of the city, said, "It seems that the skin is burning in the sun. Unbearable hot. Eid is just a few days away, so we have no option. However, due to the heat, there are fewer passengers on the roads."

Muslima Begum, a shopkeeper at the city's housing market, said the sale of hand fans has increased due to the sweltering heat in the last few days. "I am selling my hand fan for Tk 30 per piece."

Load shedding in Sylhet: PDB engineer receives threat; GD filed

An engineer of Sylhet Power Development Board (PDB) has received threat over phone from an aggrieved consumer due to frequent power outages in Sylhet.

Engineer Shams-e-Arefin lodged a general diary with Kotwali Police on Monday , said officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station Ali Mahmud.

The residents of Sylhet city have been experiencing a 10-12 load shedding amid the sweltering heat for the last several days.

On Sunday night, local people brought out a procession protesting the frequent load shedding.

According to the GD, On April 17, a consumer of Sylhet PDB made a phone call to engineer Arefin and inquired about the disruption of power.

At one stage, the man hurled abusive words at Arefin and threatened to assault him physically.

ACs selling like hot cakes in heat wave

The sale of air conditioners (AC) has apparently doubled in Dhaka, as the heatwave in the capital saw people suffer the hottest days in over six decades.

An AC is almost the only option that offers some relief without disruptions to normal routine. The pressure on customers to buy an AC has increased in many electronics stores in Dhaka.

The sales operators of different brand outlets told UNB that AC sales usually increase during the summer season, but this year the growth in sales is already extraordinary - double that in other years, which was beyond their expectations.

They said that earlier only well-to-do families would buy ACs, but now a much larger chunk of society is able to afford what was once considered a 'luxury' item.

The salesmen claim that given the intense demand, AC is no longer a 'luxury' product, but rather a 'necessity item for city-dwellers'.

Mahmud Hasan, manager of the LG Butterfly outlet in Banani, said, "The heat has just started. The way the temperature has already crossed the record is not bearable. That's why a lot of ACs are being sold. The product is sold out before it is picked up in the store. Still have a lot of orders, but can't finish them."

On the other hand, buyers complain that the heat has also affected the price of ACs. Compared to last year; the price of an AC has been jacked up by Tk 10,000 for a 1-tonne AC. Larger ACs that can service larger spaces have seen their asking price go up by Tk 32,000 - depending on the brand.

It should be noted that although local companies like Walton have ventured into the AC market, it is still dominated by foreign brands.

Therefore the AC marketing companies blamed the depreciation of local currency exchange with the US dollar as a driver of the higher prices for the imported ACs, even before the heat wave created the conditions to loosen buyers' pockets.