Without electricity for two and a half months

At least 1,354 families in Diara Narkelbaria Union in Faridpur's Sadarpur upazila, located on the banks of the Padma River, have been living without electricity for over two and a half months.
According to local Palli Bidyut Samity officials, a fault in an underground cable cut the power supply to the area on November 4. Despite repeated efforts, the faulty section remains unidentified, causing suffering to the community.
This prolonged outage has sparked frustration among residents. On November 10, villagers from Nandanalpur staged a human chain at Chungakandi market demanding the restoration of their electricity supply.
According to Sadarpur Palli Bidyut Samity, the union's electricity is supplied via a 3-kilometre-long underground cable connecting it to Narisha Union of Dhaka's Dohar. The power connection began on February 1, 2024. However, after just nine months, it stopped due to the glitch.
Mosharraf Mollah, a 51-year-old resident of Mazid Munshi Kandi village, said, "We are suffering greatly without electricity. Children are struggling with their studies, and moving around after dark has become a challenge."
Aklima Begum, a 28-year-old homemaker from Nandanalpur, said, "We have to finish all our work, including cooking, before sunset."
Farmers have also been affected. Nasir Howladar, 41, from SorderKandi village, said that the lack of electricity has disrupted irrigation. "We've cultivated onions, but without irrigation, the plants are not growing properly," he said.
Diara Narkelbaria Union Parishad Chairman Nasir Uddin said 4,200 families live in 17 villages within the union, of which around 1,500 are currently disconnected from the power grid. "Even the Union Parishad is facing challenges. I've spoken to the Palli Bidyut Samity, and they are working to restore the power connection as quickly as possible," he added.
Abdur Rashid, assistant general manager of the sub-zonal office of Narisha Union Palli Bidyut Samity in Dohar, said they have tried to identify the fault several times but failed as the cable is deeply submerged under the river.
"The exact location of the fault has not yet been identified as the cable is deeply submerged under the river. We are trying but the task to lift the cable is proving to be daunting," he said.
Acknowledging the challenge, he said, "The Palli Bidyut Samity board will decide whether to repair the cable or provide solar power to the affected families."
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