Electricity for all soon: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said it would not take that much time to provide electricity to every household.

"Around 70 percent people are now getting electricity. Inshallah, it wouldn't take that much time to make it [electricity] available to the rest of the households," she said.

The PM came up with the assurance during her introductory speech before the senior officials of power, energy and mineral resources ministry at its conference room.

Hasina, also in-charge of the ministry, asked the officials to give special emphasis on Palli Bidyut Samities to provide electricity to rural areas.

Mentioning that her government has already identified 21 sites for economic zones, the PM suggested undertaking a specific plan to set up power plants in those zones.

Turning to economical use of electricity, Hasina said, “If the mass awareness is created on the rational use of electricity, then consumption of electricity would come down along with electricity bills.”

She mentioned that her government had undertaken multifaceted steps so that 100 percent households could have electricity coverage.

The PM also underscored the need for utilising solar power, especially in char, hill and island areas as well as in educational institutions.

She talked about the subversive acts unleashed by the BNP-led 20-party alliance over the last three months like setting fire to power plants and killing engineers.

“If a politician has passion, care and love for his or her countrymen then that politician cannot unleash such destruction,” she said.

Hasina, also chief of the ruling Awami-League, asked the officials to make sure that the existing power plants run more efficiently while the old and dilapidated ones are phased out.

About the regional power cooperation, she said some 500MW of power was being imported from India through the Bheramara-Bahrampur transmission and grid substation line.

A process was also underway to import 600MW more, including 100MW, from Agartala, she added.