Naogaon, Aug. 16 -- Acute load shedding caused by a shortfall in electricity supply is disrupting industrial production and irrigation in Naogaon, with factories cutting output and farmers struggling to keep Aman rice fields irrigated amid persistent hot weather.

Areas outside the district town are facing power outages of up to seven to eight hours a day while industries are increasingly relying on diesel-run generators to keep their operations going.

The additional fuel costs are squeezing profit margins, forcing some businesses to reduce operating hours despite continued demand for their products.

Naogaon, one of Bangladesh's major rice-producing districts, has more than 700 rice mills. The district also has numerous small and large ...