27 February 2006 - Bangladesh experienced power cuts on Sunday as a result of the tripping of a 71 MW power generation unit at Baghabari the 360 MW CDC Globeleq Haripur plant failing to resume its scheduled operation after maintenance.

Electricity authorities were forced into a 1200 MW load shedding with the capital Dhaka alone having to experience some 500 MW load-shedding to manage the power distribution system.

According to sources in the Load Dispatch Centre, with the tripping of 71 MW unit Sunday, all the three generation units at Baghabari station, including a 100 MW PDB unit and a 45 MW
Westmont unit, are now closed, adding to the ongoing electricity crisis, particularly in the northern region

The failure of 360 MW Globeleq Haripur plant in Narayanganj to resume production as per schedule will deepen the power crisis in the capital and adjoining areas. The plant has been closed for maintenance since 17 February but was due to restart on Sunday. Globeleq now say that the plant is scheduled to resume generation from March 12.

Jute spinners have urged the government to shut down markets and shops with few exceptions by 7 pm and ban any type of illumination to mitigate losses in industrial production due to power outages.

The association claimed that each of the spinning mills is facing 300 hours (13 days) of power outage and low voltage in a month, particularly in the southern and northern parts of the Country.