Dhaka: Power supply to vast areas under Khulna, Barisal, Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions remained suspended since Monday night following the failure of two major transmission lines to the national grid.

The grid failure virtually led to the shutdown of a many power plants in the country’s west and northern regions, said a top official at state‐owned Power Development Board (PDB).

The officials at state‐owned Power Grid Company of Bangladesh ﴾PGCB﴿, which is responsible to operate the grid system, said the first incident of grid failure took place in 230 kV Ashuganj‐Sirajganj transmission line as a strong storm hit it at 11:00pm on Monday.

With the breakdown of the grid line, which works as one of the main electricity transmission line to the northern region, a number of power plants in the region were immediately shut.

The second grid failure took place in another vital transmission line – 230 kV Ghoirasal‐Ishwardi Transmission Line—at 11:00am on Tuesday morning.

Assistant manager (public relations) of PGCB ABM Badruddoza Sumon said the officials of his organisation have already started repairing work on the two transmission lines.

‘But it may take a few hours to complete the job and resume operation of the grid system,’ he added.

He hoped that electricity transmission lines will be able to start operation by this evening.