Power Development Board (PDB) and private operators together generated 2,757 megawatts (MW) of power during the peak hour at 6:00pm yesterday.

"This was the lowest ever power generation in seven years, deepening the power crisis across the country," said an official wishing anonymity.

According to other officials, the country's power generation was over 2700MW in 1998 before the Haripur 360MW came into operation.

The power supply situation in the country took a turn for the worse when two major generation units suffered technical faults yesterday.

The 210MW unit-5 of Ghorashal Power Station was shutdown while technical faults in unit-4 of similar capacity left the unit crippled, generating only 100MW.

PDB Chairman ANM Rizwan recognised the record fall in the power generation and hoped that the two units would come back to their full capacities within two days. "We're doing our best to fix the faults as early as possible," he told UNB.

He informed that two units at Barapukuria coal-powered plant also resumed generation Friday.

The country has been suffering from severe power shortage for more than a month as 20 generation units remained out of operation for various reasons.

Sources said despite the huge shortage in generation, the PDB supplied about 1,500 MW to DESA's command areas to avoid public outrage in the city.

"So, the amount load shedding in Dhaka city was relatively lower compared to other parts of the country," another official said.