Bangladesh’s electricity import from India, totalling 2,656 megawatts, is crucial for meeting domestic demand, but the irregular payment of bills poses significant challenges. As of last February, outstanding bills amounted to 5,297 crore 48 lakh takas, with some invoices overdue for up to six months. The delay in bill processing exacerbates the situation, and if bills for March and April are included, the total outstanding amount may approach 7,000 crore takas.
Bangladesh imports electricity from various Indian sources, including NVVN, Sembcorp India, PTC India, and Adani Power. However, bills remain unpaid for several months, leading to reduced power supply from India. The situation is compounded by currency fluctuations, as payments must be made in dollars, and the recent devaluation of the rupee has increased import costs by 60 %.