Generators get VVIPs going

Dhaka loses its neon glitz and even the street lights and all that is bright are headlights of cars and a few buildings powered by generators. The photo of Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue was taken at Farmgate during the blackout yesterday evening. Photo: Amran Hossain

The president, the prime minister and other VIPs of the country had the taste of a unique experience yesterday.

For the first time in seven years, they saw power outage in their residences and offices, although it's a daily phenomenon for the common people of the country.

The president's office-cum-residence Bangabhaban, the PM's official residence Gono Bhaban and the parliament Speakers' residence had no electricity supply from the national grid for more than eight hours beginning from around 11:30am, when the entire nation plunged into one of the worst-ever blackouts of the country.

However, thanks to the positions they hold, alternative power supply through generators was ensured at their places.

Sometime after 3:00pm, power supply to the Bangabhaban and the Gono Bhaban was restored but it lasted only a few minutes.

The parliament building too was run on electricity produced through generators.

However, no such alternative means of power supply were taken for the staff quarters of the Bangabhaban, the Gono Bhaban and the parliament.

Supply of electricity to the three most important installations of the country was restored around 8:00pm.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia too tasted the fallouts of the blackout during her Natore visit yesterday. She passed about an hour at Natore Circuit House amid alternative power supply. Generators were used to make sure her loudspeakers work during a rally at the NS College ground there.

Addressing the rally, Khaleda did not spare the chance to criticise her political archrival Sheikh Hasina over the latter's claim of having brought about significant improvement in the power sector since she took the helm of the country in 2009.

"Where is electricity generated from your quick rental power plants?” Khaleda teased the PM.

In November 2007, cyclone Sidr damaged the country's electricity distribution system, causing blackout across the country for over 12 hours.