Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government has taken effective steps to develop the country's three hill districts. Since 1997, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government has been implementing comprehensive development programs in the hilly areas. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given special consideration to the people who are deprived of electricity facilities in remote hilly areas. Forty thousand families of remote hilly areas of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachari districts have been provided with solar home system and of 2,500 solar community systems have been provided for various hilly Para centers, student hostels and orphanage fully free of cost. Through the electricity generated from solar panels, remote hilly areas are being illuminated with light. As a result, the standard of living of the people in the remote areas of the three hill districts has improved remarkably.
It is very difficult and expensive to provide electricity in remote hilly areas through grid lines. In these areas the only source of lighting and other electrical system was kerosene lamps or diesel generators, Getting electricity was like getting a golden deer for the poor. The government has taken the initiative to provide electricity and light for these marginalized poor people. Most of the developmental functions of the government are under the supervision of Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board. The Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board deserves praise for the development works. Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board has managed to bring the people of hilly areas under the electricity facilities by installing solar photovoltaic system. Photovoltaic solar panels generate electricity directly from sunlight. It absorbs sunlight as a source of energy. Photovoltaic (PV) modules are connected assemblies of photovoltaic solar cells available in different voltages and wattages in a package.
It is currently not possible to provide power to remote hilly areas from the national grid. Experts opine that it will not be possible to supply electricity from the national grid to the remote areas of the three hill districts even within the next two years. Therefore, the government is distributing solar home systems and solar community systems completely free of charge to change the quality of life of people in remote hilly areas. The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already launched solar home system for people deprived of electricity in remote areas of 26 upazilas of three hill districts namely Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban.
In the remote mountain areas, the inhabitants have been living in small Para villages. 20 to 100 families live in each Para village. However, it is difficult to provide hill people with utilities. Therefore, the government has taken measures to distribute solar power through solar panels to poor people living in remote hilly areas and off-grid photovoltaic system in community centers free of cost.
40,000 beneficiary households have been selected in the second phase to provide electricity facilities through photovoltaic solar systems. Besides, the government has also started the work of providing electricity to slum centers, student hostels, orphanage centers through 2,500 photovoltaic community systems in remote areas. The government's project is titled 'Electricity Supply (Phase II) through Installation of Solar Panels in Remote Areas of Chittagong Hill Tracts'. The project is fully funded by GOB at a total estimated cost of Tk 217 crore 71 lakh and the implementation work is scheduled to be completed between July 2020 and June 2023. In the first phase, 10 thousand 890 families will be provided with solar home system and 2 thousand 814 solar community system in power deprived Para centers, student hostels in remote areas, orphanage centers. As a result, 1.80 megawatts of solar power is being produced and used.
In Rangamati District, a remote area of Chittagong Hill Tracts, the number of power-deprived hilly Paras are 639, of which the number of households is 16,443. Already 3 thousand 643 families of Rangamati district have been included under solar home system. The number of slums deprived of electricity in remote areas of Bandarban district is 1 thousand 881. Out of which the number of families deprived of electricity service is 18 thousand 360. Already, 4 thousand 360 families in the remote areas of Bandarban district have been provided with electricity under the solar home system. In the remote areas of Khagrachari hill district, the number of electrified Paras are 454 out of which 16 thousand 107 electrified families have been selected as beneficiary families. Already 3 thousand 107 beneficiary families have been provided with electricity through the solar home system installed in Khagrachari district.
On September 21, 2022, solar panel systems worth Tk 6 crore have been distributed to 1 thousand 327 families free of charge under the project 'Supply of electricity through installation of solar panels in the remote areas of hilly Chittagong-2nd phase' in Remakri Union, a remote area of Thanchi Upazila of Bandarban district. Not only that, but also training in using the solar panel system was given to everyone for installation of the equipment in cash. Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Singh MP attended the event as the chief guest and distributed these materials. Beneficiaries will get 100 watt peak hour electricity from each solar panel. Per Solar panel equipment can run 4 LED bulbs, 1 ceiling fan, 1 TV, 1 charge controller. Which by proper use, the beneficiaries will get solar power benefits for at least 20 years.
Solar panels or solar power generation is the best way to electrify remote areas in hilly areas. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina government has enlightened the hill region by distributing and installing solar panels in the hill towns. The Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs is working continuously to build a developed and prosperous hill region.
Md. Rejuan Khan is Information Officer,
PID, Dhaka