"We won't accept any power cut during peak time of business, particularly in the month of Ramadan... we do whole year's business in this month," said Helaluddin Helal, president of Dhaka City Shop Owners' Association (DCSOA), at a meeting with the minister at Desa (Dhaka Electric Supply Authority) head office.

"We've been facing load shedding even in the day time. Our level of patience has crossed all limits," he added.

The minister convened the meeting to discuss the power supply situation with the leaders of different chambers and business bodies.

Helal said the failure of the government in managing power sector will come up as "a big question" in the upcoming general elections. "Unabated corruption has crippled the entire power sector and the present government did nothing to increase the power generation in the country."

He, however, accepted the power minister's proposal to avoid illuminating the shopping malls.

FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossaain said frequent power disruption causes serious setback to the export business, as the exporters fail to keep their supply commitment.

President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) SM Fazlul Haque said the knitwear sector this year achieved 35 percent growth in export business. "We deserve at least 35 percent additional electricity... We don't want any interruption in power supply."

Top officials of Desa and other organisations in the power sector informed the meeting that it is not possible to stop load shedding due to poor power supply situation.

The state minister for power, who listened to the statements of the business leaders, admitted the government's failure in the power sector.

He finally made a call to the public in general and business leaders in particular to maintain austerity in consuming electricity.

He also directed the power officials to sit with the local community leaders to apprise them of the situation and set a specific timetable for load shedding through discussion.