Frequent power outages in Bhola`s Charfassion upazila have severely disrupted local industries, especially ice factories that left to significant economic losses and job cuts.

Of the 35 ice factories in the area, 20 have completely shut down due to the unreliable electricity supply. The remaining 15 are struggling to operate at minimal capacity and cover their losses. The crisis occurs alongside an ongoing shortage of hilsa fish in the rivers and coastal waters, making things worse for the fishing industry.

In Charfassion, electricity is available for only two to three hours each day and night. Because of these outages, fish worth millions of Tk are rotting in coastal markets as they cannot be preserved properly without enough ice. Current estimates show losses of around Tk 200 million (20 crore) across ice factories, fish markets, and fishing boats this season.

Two auto rice mills and nearly 50 other small factories have had to close, leaving many workers without jobs. Households are also affected as electrical appliances, like fans and refrigerators, are damaged by frequent outages and voltage fluctuations. Over 100,000 consumers in the municipality and nearby areas are facing significant difficulties from the power crisis.

Aziz Patwary, President of the Samraj Fish Depot Owners’ Association, said, “Power outages are disrupting ice production and putting fish preservation at risk. We are losing lakhs of taka daily as fish rot in the depots.”

Selim Mia, General Secretary of the Ice Factory Owners’ Association, commented, “Ice production stopped during the 58-day hilsa fishing ban. Now, even though the factories have reopened, ongoing power outages have forced 20 of them to close.”

Trawler owner Salauddin echoed these concerns, stating, “Without enough ice, fishermen cannot preserve their catch and are unable to go to sea. Thousands of fishermen are unemployed, and trawler owners are facing heavy losses during peak season.”

Haji Helal Uddin, Director of Bhola Auto Rice Mill, said, “Constant load-shedding has forced many rice mills to shut down, leaving workers without jobs.”

Anonymous sources blame the crisis on limited capacity at the Charfassion substation, disputes between the West Zone Power Distribution Company (WZPDCL) and the Rural Electrification Board (Palli Bidyut), and technical issues in the power lines. They see little hope for improvement before winter.

The Power Division reported that one of the two 34-megawatt rental transformers in Bhola has been out of service since before Eid-ul-Adha, leading to a 10 MW shortfall. Efforts are being made to maintain a limited supply using the remaining transformer through a 33kV feeder line to six upazilas.

Mizanur Rahman, WZPDCL’s residential engineer in Charfassion, confirmed that load-shedding of one to one-and-a-half hours is occurring both day and night due to the transformer failure.

Sujit Kumar Biswas, GM of the Rural Electrification Board, stated that the faulty transformer has been reported for urgent repair.