All upazilas to come under 100pc power by next year: Nasrul

State minister for power Nasrul Hamid yesterday said all upazilas in the country will be brought under 100 percent electricity network by December 2019.

The state minister made the promise while speaking at a press briefing at the Bidyut Bhaban in the capital.

The press conference was organised in connection with the prime minister's videoconference today to inaugurate a number of completed projects in the power sector, and upazilas which got 100 percent power connections.

Nasrul Hamid said they have achieved short- and medium-term plans in the sector, and are implementing long-term plans now.

Secretary to Power Division Ahmad Kaikaus said the PM will inaugurate seven power generation plants via videoconference today.

Besides, 102 upazilas have been brought under 100 percent electricity network, he said, adding that the PM will also inaugurate the project in those 102 upazilas.

In the next few days, four more upazilas will be brought under 100 percent electricity network, and by December, 68 percent of all 492 upazilas of the country will come under cent percent power connection.

The secretary said in 2009, the real power generation in the country was 3,286 megawatts (MW). At present, the generation capacity has increased four times, to stand at 20,430MW.

Speaking at the programme, prime minister's energy adviser Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said if the government led by Sheikh Hasina did not come to power, this development would not have taken place.

He urged the people to support the government for continuation of development.

“I've heard criticising [the government] is the strategy of the media. Okay. Support [the government] for the next two months… criticise again after two months.”