In view of the situation, the authorities urged the owners to cease from lighting the shopping malls on the occasion of Eid-shopping binges.

State Minister for Power Iqbal Hassan Mahmood explained the measures taken in a meeting with the managers of different power stations at his ministry.

"We'll enforce law if the owners fail to comply with government orders," he told reporters.

Against the backdrop of countrywide electricity crunch, the power ministry convened the meeting of the general managers and chief engineers of different power stations to discuss a way out.

The chief executives of the state-owned power stations informed the meeting that about eight large power plants across the country remained out of operation for various reasons, resulting in 800 MW to 1000 MW shortages in electricity supply.

They said all the power stations were either forced to shutdown by mechanical breakdown or for maintenance work. The plants need at least three to four weeks time to repair and resume operation.

"Most of the power stations lack expertise and skilled manpower, causing the delay in repairs and maintenance works," they were quoted as saying.

Chairman of the Power Development Board (PDB) ANH Akhtar Hossain told the meeting that the problem related to shortage of skilled manpower has been persisting for the last 15 years. But this was not properly addressed.

The state minister directed the chiefs of power stations to make special effort to bring all the closed plants back into operation within next two weeks.

"You have to increase generation to 3800 MW from 3200 MW," the minister told power-station managers.

The meeting was informed that if all the closed plants resumed operation, it would add about 360 MW electricity to the national grid, easing the present crisis situation.

Secretary of the Power Division Nazrul Islam and Chairman of Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (Desa) A Rab were also present at the meeting.