The nation would come under 100 percent electricity coverage by March 2021 as pledged by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh Power Development Board (BREB) is working to supply electricity to on grid and off grid (remote) areas keeping in mind the slogan of ensuing electricity in all households.
BREB has already completed electricity coverage for 96 percent people in its geographical area. Where the grid power is not reachable, electricity is being provided through the solar system, BREB official said.
According to BREB, before the scheduled timeframe is over, they will ensure 100 percent electricity coverage in the country to mark the ‘Mujib Barsho’, the centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Apart from ensuring 100 percent electricity coverage, to mark the ‘Mujib Barsho’ it has already set various types of targets in order to provide improved and quality service to users and create skilled manpower in the rural areas, BREB officials said.
BREB director Mohammad Anwar Hossain told Bangladesh Post, “We are working to ensure electricity for all in REB’s geographical area during the Mujib Barsho. Already 416 upazilas out of 361 upazilas are now getting 100 percent electricity facility. Rest of 45 upazilas will come under house to house electricity facility in grid area by next June.”
“However, we have identified 1059 villages where to reach on-grid connection is very difficult. We would ensure 100 percent electricity facility in the area through solar system by December next,” he added.
The BREB official said that 80 Palli Bidyut Samitys are providing electricity to the rural homes under a theme ‘Alor Feriwala’, the peddler of light, which has greatly reduced customer’s harassment.
‘In Mujib Barsho, the entire population under REB’s geographical area will enjoy electricity facility. Through this, the task of building the 'Sonar Bangla', the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will go towards completion and accelerate the implementation of the current government's electoral commitment of building ‘Amar Gram Amar Shohor’ (My Village My City), a top official said.
BREB has already selected 80 villages, where uninterrupted power with reliable electricity will be supplied to implement the programme. Besides, some 2.5 lakh prepaid meter will be installed across in the country during the Mujib Barsho. On the other hand BREB has already introduced ‘day care center’ for official and employees in its offices and 80 Palli Bidyut Shamity premises to observe Mujib Barsho.
In addition, enforcing 'zero tolerance' policy against corruption the government is introducing 'paperless office' by 2020 to build 'Digital Bangladesh'. In order to ensure transparency and accountability, Sheikh Hasina's initiative - electricity from door to door, Palli Bidyut Samity is continuing ‘courtyard meeting’ in the rural areas.
Meanwhile, BREB also plans to install 2,000 environment-friendly solar irrigation pumps for marginal farmers during Mujib Barsho, which will sell at half the price of project cost, and in 10-year installments. The project will also help to meet diverse energy demands, improve livelihoods because of less pollution, and result in savings from the reduction in diesel use for irrigation and other agricultural activities.
A BREB official said that they have taken an initiative for creation of 50 kinds of electricity-based small businesses. Such as IT-based business and agro-processing industry, small scale local garments, automated rice husking, fish storage, repair and maintenance of electrical equipment and others are also included’.
Around 200 entrepreneurs will be given business-related equipment, 2200 people under five Palli Bidyut Samities will get different electricity and business-related trainings. Some 200 trainees will get business related equipment worth taka one lakh each. Besides, five help centers will be set up under the project. It will be implemented by 2020 on a pilot basis.
To ensure the availability of information and services to the people living in the rural areas, Digital Information Centre (DIC) has been set up in 4,554 union parishads (UOs). As a result, the information and services of the village people have been made easier and employment opportunities have been created for unemployed youths.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman established BREB to supply electricity in rural areas in 1972. Palli Bidyut Shamity under Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) is supplying electricity in rural areas.
They have 2.83 crore users out of the total 3.64 crore electricity users across the country. It has 4 lakh 86 thousand kilometers power distribution lines. Currently its system loss is just about 10.91 percent, which was 18 percent in 2008. The system loss will be further reduced to around 7.09 percent in a very short time.
The Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board and the Palli Bidyut Samity have already been able to achieve good reputation at home and abroad by providing proper management, quality services, transparency, accountability and efficiency in the rural electrification programme.
Palli Bidyut Samity achieved the 'National Purification Award' and the 'Innovation Showcase-2019 Award' for the initiatives of 'Alor Feriwala' by the Power Division.
In 2018, BREB got an acceptance for provider of quick electricity connection and service, and in 2016 it achieved 'best government electricity supplier organization' award and certificate by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It has been awarded as the ‘highest VAT paying’ organization by the National Board of Revenue (NBR). This success has been achieved with the vision of the present government, good leadership, commitment to the people, teamwork of the BREB and above all with the sincere cooperation of all.
After 45 years of independence, Palli Bidyut Samity has constructed 308 kilometers distributions line and supply of electricity to 11,882 families in ‘Chhitmahal’ in a very short time under the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on October, 15, 2015. As a result, there is a touch of development in all these areas.
Under the Prime Minister's priority project of ‘Ashroyon Prokolpo’ (a project for home for homeless), it has been provided power supply to 19,478 families in 919 project-villages to rehabilitate the homeless, landless, helpless people. BREB is the pioneer in the country for the promotion of renewable energy, especially the use of solar power. In 1993, Palli Bidyut Samity was introduced first to install 15,250 solar home system under a project in Bangladesh.
