Against a 616 MW power demand, the Power Development Board (PDB) managed to supply only 144 MW from two Baghabari units and 150 MW from the eastern sources.

"We had to cut power supplies as there was no fresh generation of power," said a senior PDB official of Rajshahi Zone.

There was, however, no load-shedding in Rajshahi for 24 hours on Wednesday during Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's day long visit.

PDB sources said the power situation deteriorated as two 125 MW power units at Barapukuria in Dinajpur tripped on Tuesday. The situation eased a bit in the early hours yesterday when one of the two coal-based units resumed operation.

Another unit that started operation on test in January and tripped at the end of February would start functioning today, they added.

Both the coal-based Barapukuria units went out of operation following technical faults in the 'evacuation line,' said PDB sources.