Dhaka: The government has started taking measures to ensure uninterrupted power supply for the coming irrigation season as the power consumption during the boro cultivation jumps up to additional 5,000MW. 'At present, the country is generating a maximum 11,608MW of electricity per day, while the electricity demand may reach 17,000MW for irrigation season during April,' a BPDB official said.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the state-run Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) has proposed a closer monitoring and restrictions on irrigation pump operations during peak hours, alongside efforts to encourage farmers to shift irrigation to off-peak periods to meet the additional demand. Power cell information indicates the total number of irrigation connections is now 4.98 lakh in the country, while there are currently 135 power plants. The country generates 11,608MW of electricity while importing 2,696 MW.
The BPDB official stated that the highest demand was projected at 17,800MW while the highest generation was 16,477MW in 2025. The BPDB projects that the highest electricity demand during the summer months this year would be 18,000 MW against its highest production target of 17,000 MW. The government has been procuring liquefied natural gas (LNG) to fulfill gas demand, which primarily fuels electricity generation.
The official mentioned that moving most irrigation load to midnight-to-dawn periods could reduce evening peak demand by around 2,000 MW, easing pressure on fuel-constrained power plants during critical hours. Director General of Power Cell under Power Division AJM Ershad Ahsan Habib reported that a committee will soon meet regarding power demand for the irrigation season.
During a January 4 meeting, BPDB projections showed an overall electricity demand rising from around 12,000 MW at present to about 18,500 MW during April and May 2026. 'Through the proper monitoring system, boro irrigation alone is expected to consume roughly 5,000 MW,' the official added.
The BPDB has proposed shutting compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations during evening peak hours to divert gas supplies to power generation during the irrigation season. In April 2025, electricity supply remained normal during the summer season, with existing power plants generating an average of 14,000 MW against a daily approximate demand of 15,000 MW in summer during the last year. A BPDB official noted that power demand typically increases in summer compared to winter.
To manage the supply of gas and fuel oil, greater coordination among the power and energy divisions and other concerned agencies will be maintained. During an early-January meeting chaired by Power Division Secretary Farzana Momtaz, authorities were instructed to complete the tender process for LNG procurement swiftly and finalize all necessary arrangements by February 2026.
In light of the upcoming national election, the holy month of Ramadan, and the irrigation and summer seasons, officials agreed on preparing a list of power plants capable of operating at optimum efficiency. Earlier this month, Power and Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan met with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed to seek additional funding support for procuring fuel for power plants during the upcoming summer months.