The efforts of the present government to reach electricity to every house of the country deserve kudos. As reported by this daily on Saturday, some 97 per cent of people are now getting electricity facilities. It is expected that every house will get power supply within the ‘Mujib Barsho'.
Bangladesh has now been turned into a power surplus country from a deficit one, thanks to the inauguration of 100 new power plants over the last 10 years. Reportedly, in 2009, the number of power plants was 27 with a total generation capacity of 4,942MW of electricity. Now the number of power plants is 138 and the capacity is 20,383 MW.
There was a time when round-the-clock power supply was more of a distant-dream to us. Four to six hours of load-shedding during summer was a regular phenomenon in most of the towns of Bangladesh. Hundreds of villages did not have access to electricity. But now, almost every family in the village has a smart phone. One can see children studying under the electric light, villagers watching satellite television channels. This is how electricity has been illuminating thousands of villages as well as the villagers.
In order to make the country self-reliant
in power generation, it is important to continue
the pace of development in the power sector.
The government has integrated a noble vision to ensure reliable electricity to all at an affordable price by the year 2021. As a part of ‘Vision 2021’ the government is working to ensure power supply in the remote areas. The country’s power sector has achieved a milestone by providing electricity to Sandwip through submarine cable.
The efforts of the government to improve country’s power sector have set an example for our future leaders. In order to make the country self-reliant in power generation, it will be important to keep the pace of development in power sector unhindered.
Power generation in Bangladesh is increasing gradually to cover every corner of the country. We, therefore, hope that by ensuring access to electricity for every citizen of the country we can help build an educated nation. We hope with round-the-clock power supply our rural people will get rid of poverty and darkness and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
