Habibul Islam Habib, elected from Satkhira, at a parliamentary standing committee meeting said incessant power failure caused suffering to the people and hindered irrigation.

The state minister for energy at the meeting resented Power Development Board (PDB) for not informing him of the incident.

The parliamentary standing committee on the energy ministry directed the PDB to ensure electricity supply in the area for continual irrigation. It also suggested load-shedding, if need be, for the cities instead of rural areas for proper irrigation.

The PDB chairman told State Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud that power production has declined due to gas shortage. He assured the minister of necessary steps to solve the problem, meeting sources said.

Shahidul Islam, chairman of the committee, presided over the meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.