The country’s electricity situation is expected to return to normal once the ongoing gas shortage is resolved, Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman said on Tuesday.

He made the remarks at a press conference at the Secretariat on the progress of various government activities.

According to the adviser, the Ministry of Power and Energy and relevant ministers have said that the electricity situation will improve once the gas crisis eases. They expect the current power shortage to become significantly less severe.

Addressing load-shedding in Dhaka, Zahed said residents of the capital should also accept some power shortages.

However, he said Dhaka could receive some priority in electricity supply because it is the country’s largest city and a major centre of economic activity.

The government is also moving away from the policy of keeping Dhaka completely free from load-shedding, he said. As a result, some load-shedding is currently being experienced in the capital.

Referring to load-shedding during the Awami League government, the adviser said Dhaka had largely been spared from power cuts at that time.

He said this was partly because people in Dhaka had a stronger “voice” and greater social capital, which had created a perception among residents that the capital should remain free from load-shedding.

Zahed compared average load-shedding figures for June and July in 2023 and 2026, with 2023 being the last full year of the previous government.

According to the figures he cited, average daily load-shedding in June 2023 was 969 megawatts, compared with 741 megawatts in June 2026.

Similarly, average daily load-shedding stood at 613 megawatts in July 2023, while the figure was 460 megawatts in July 2026.

The adviser said the comparison showed that load-shedding in June and July this year was lower than in the corresponding months of 2023.