PM opens first solar plant, promises power for all

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday inaugurated the country's first solar power plant while promising to light up each and every house of the country by generating electricity from different sources.
"We'll provide electricity connection to each house of the country, enable our children to read, learn and get educated in the light of modern education. Every area of the country will be developed...we believe in balanced development," she said while inaugurating the 100 percent electricity supply programme and four power plants through a videoconference from her official residence at Ganobhaban on Sunday.
It was a pledge in the election manifesto of Awami League to provide electricity to all by 2020 and accordingly her government is working to keep her promise by the stipulated time frame.
She also announced full electricity coverage for 10 Upazilas from the event.
"Our target is to cater to the needs of people in the rural areas, we want to lighten up their houses, provide healthcare, education and improve their lifestyle," she said.
After assuming power, her government added 16,000 plus MW in the national grid in the last eight years covering approximately 83 percent of the total population.
Recalling the     deplorable condition of power production in 1996, Hasina said when Awami League assumed office it inherited only 1,600 MW of power production. "Only a few people enjoyed electricity facilities while the entire rural areas remained in complete darkness." The Prime Minister said the governments that came in power after 1975 never thought much about the welfare of people as they were indulged in corruption to make their own fortunes.
The upazilas which have already been brought under 100 percent electricity coverage are Faridpur Sadar, Rajoir, Naogaon Sadar, Kamarkhand, Akhaura, Brahmanbaria Sadar, Shalikha, Meherpur Sadar, Madon and Belabo.
The new power plants set to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister are Shikalbaha 225 MW plant, Chapainawabganj 100 MW plant, Salla 400 Kilowatt solar plant and Sharishabari 3 MW solar plant.
Sheikh Hasina said increased power production is very much essential, but this is not only for urban people.
After returning to power in 1996, Hasina said, the then Awami League government formulated law for captive power generation to invite the private sector to generate power. It was aimed to meet the power demand and waived all taxes on the import of generators. "With our time-befitting steps, we have been able to improve the power generation from 1,600 MW to 4,300MW."
However, she regretted that when Awami League came to power again in 2009 she saw that the power generation was reduced to 3,200MW.
"The BNP-Jamaat government was involved in looting, money laundering and widespread corruption. They didn't do anything for the welfare of people. As a result, the country became the champion for five times consecutively in the corrupt index as the most corrupt in the world," she said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that her government in 2009 set a target to go for producing power quickly as part of a government plan to improve the national gridline and other supply lines.
"Considering the growing demand for power, we are moving to diversified sources to produce power. We're now getting power from solar, nuclear, coal and oil-based sources alongside importing electricity from India to meet the demand," she said.
Hasina said the country is now producing 16,150 MW of electricity and 83 percent people of the country have come under the electricity coverage.
PM's Energy Adviser Towfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury and State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid also spoke at the programme.
PM opened the solar-based power plant in Sunamganj, the inhabitants of Saskai village in Sulla upazila, the haor areas of Sunamganj, got a renewable energy-based power plant.
The plant is likely to cover electricity needs of 400 families in Saskai area.
Power Development Board (PDB), who executed the project, said the plant started producing power through installing 2,322 solar panels and 540 batteries with 2,500 amplifier capacity this year.