Instant electricity connection
With no electricity connection to his newly built home, Md Shahin Fakir was sitting idle at home on a Thursday morning when he heard someone chanting offers of power connections over megaphone.
The 35-year-old immediately went out and found a group of men on the road promising electricity connections.
The men gave Shahin a form to fill and charged Tk 400 deposit and Tk 50 membership fee. Within the next five minutes, Shahin's new home had a lightbulb on.
The incident is one of many in Debuapur village of Patuakhali, thanks to a special programme launched by Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board.
“I am very happy as the power connection was given instantly and at a reasonable price,” Shahin told this correspondent.
Patuakhali REB introduced the programme Alor Feriwala (hawker of light) in Patuakhali and Barguna on January 14.
Until January 25, REB gave 382 connections -- 316 in Patuakhali and 66 in Barguna -- under the programme, said Monohor Kumar Biswas, general manager of Patuakhali REB.
“The programme has turned out to be effective and we are receiving great response from consumers.”
Ten teams are working in 11 upazilas of the districts. Each team has a van loaded with electricity consumption metres, cables, money receipts, and forms, the REB official said.
“Instant connections are given to households and establishments within 130 feet of an electric pole. We are working to expand the programme to facilitate all establishments within the shortest possible time,” he said.
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