DHAKA, Jan 16, 2026 (BSS) – 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.

To meet the additional demand, 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.

According to power cell information, the total number of irrigation connection is now 4.98 lakh in the country, while the number of total power plants is now 135.
Currently, the country generates 11,608MW electricity while importing 2,696 MW, it said.

The BPDB official said 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 primary fuels electricity generation.

“If most irrigation load can be moved to midnight-to-dawn periods, evening peak demand could be reduced by around 2,000 MW, easing pressure on fuel-constrained power plants during critical hours,” the official said.

Talking to BSS Director General of Power Cell under Power Division AJM Ershad Ahsan Habib said a committee will hold meeting soon regarding the power demand for the irrigation season.

A meeting has already been held on January 4 where 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 said.

During the irrigation season, the BPDB has proposed shutting compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations during evening peak hours to divert gas supplies to power generation.

In April 2025, electricity supply remained normal during the summer season. Existing power plants generated electricity on an average 14000-14000 MW against daily approximate demand of 15000 MW in summer during the last year.
The power demand across the country usually goes up in summer than winter season, the PBPDB official said.

The supply of gas and fuel oil will be maintained with greater coordination among the power and energy divisions and other agencies concerned.

At an early-January meeting chaired by Power Division Secretary Farzana Momtaz, authorities were instructed to complete the tender process for LNG procurement as quickly as possible and to finalise all necessary arrangements by February, 2026.

In view of the upcoming national election, the holy month of Ramadan, and the irrigation and summer seasons, officials agreed to prepare a list of power plants capable of operating at optimum efficiency. 

Earlier this month, Power and Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan met Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed and sought additional funding support to procure fuel for power plants during the upcoming summer months.