Bangladesh manufacturers report mounting losses from Saidpur load shedding

Persistent power outages are disrupting production at factories in Saidpur, causing financial losses for business owners and uncertainty for workers.

Factory owners said machinery often must remain idle because of load shedding. When electricity fails during production, equipment must be restarted, creating waste and increasing operating losses.

“There is such load shedding that we have to keep our machines off most of the time,” one factory owner said. “Restarting like this causes a lot of damage, produces a lot of wastage, and the company suffers significant losses.”

Workers said some companies send employees home when production stops, leaving them with commuting expenses and lost wages.

Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation officials said they contacted the Northern Electricity Supply Company’s Saidpur office. The utility assured them it would provide regular service, though it said supplies from the national grid remain insufficient to meet demand.