<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Authorities in Sylhet have decided to increase the duration of load-shedding to 10-13 hours daily in several areas in a bid to tackle the ongoing power crisis.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The government, amid the global energy crisis, had decided to carry out two hours of area-based load-shedding across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>On 18 July, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid announced that no load shedding will continue for more than an hour.</div><div><br></div><div>He had said that if the situation demands the duration of scheduled power outages will be increased to two hours.   </div><div><br></div><div>However, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Sales and Distribution Division-2 on Sunday published a new load-shedding schedule for Sylhet. </div><div><br></div><div>As per the latest development, many Sylhet areas are to remain in the dark for a staggering 13 hours daily. </div><div><br></div><div>BPDB provides electricity in Sylhet through five distribution points. New schedules have been issued for all of them with power cuts ranging from 10-13 hours.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking with The Business Standard, Shams-e-Arefin, executive engineer of BPDB Sales and Distribution Division-2, said, "We are not being able to supply as per the people's needs. Only 33% of the total demand was met on Sunday. </div><div><br></div><div>"This is why we had to increase the duration of power outages. The people are suffering a great deal due to this."</div><div><br></div><div>"The updated schedules, which is a preliminary one, have been published to notify consumers in advance. Load-shedding durations may increase or fall depending on supply," he added.</div><div><br></div><div>When contacted, BPDB Sylhet Division Chief Engineer Abdul Qadir said, "Not only the areas under the Sales and Distribution Division-2, in fact the whole of Sylhet is facing an acute electricity crisis. </div><div><br></div><div>"Supply remains dry during day time due to the factories. The situation improves at night." </div><div><br></div><div>"On Sunday afternoon, Sylhet district's power demand stood at 200MW but received a supply of just 90MW. This resulted in a disruption in the load-shedding schedules," he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the villages in Sylhet are faring much worse than the cities. Rural consumers complained that they were getting power for only 4-5 hours a day.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/TR</div>