Dhaka, April 27 -- Power outages will not cease immediately but are set to ease considerably from next week, Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood said Monday.

"Current load shedding stands at 1,200 to 1,500 megawatts. From next week the figure should drop to 800 to 900 megawatts. A complete halt, however, is not possible at this moment," the minister said while speaking at the 'Fourth Bangladesh-China Renewable Energy Forum' organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at a city hotel.

The minister cited mounting financial strain as a key constraint, disclosing that outstanding dues owed to power-importing entities have swelled to Tk 56,000 crore.

Compounding the fiscal burden, the ongoing Middle East crisis has already cost the c...