Every house will be illuminated: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday reiterated that her government will illuminate every house of the country, saying that desired development is not possible without electricity.
"Production of electricity is very much needed for the development of the country. We believe in balanced development of the country, so our goal is to reach electricity to rural and grassroots people, not only in urban areas," she said.
The prime minister said this while inaugurating four new power plants including two solar power plants as well 100 percent electrification in 10 upazilas through a videoconferencing from her official Ganabhaban residence here this morning.
The power plants are Shikalbaha 225-MW Combined Cycle Power Plant, Chapainawabganj 100-MW Power Plant, Shalla 400 kilowatt Solar Power Plant and Sharishabari 3-MW Solar Power Plant.
The 10 upazilas brought under 100 percent electrification are Faridpur Sadar upazila in Faridpur, Rajoir upazila in Madaripur, Kamarkhand in Sirajganj, Akhaura in Brahmmanbaria, Brahmmanbaria Sadar, Shalikha in Magura, Meherpur Sadar, Madan in Netrakona and Belabo in Narsingdi.
Elaborating various steps of her government for the development of the power sector, Sheikh Hasina said the country is now producing 16,150 MW electricity due to these pragmatic measures.
Sheikh Hasina regretted that the previous BNP-Jamaat government took the country backward by their misrule, corruption, money-laundering and other destructive acts. "They could not produce a single megawatt of electricity rather production decreased to 1600 MW from 3,200,MW" she said.
The premier said they did nothing for the welfare of the people, rather they were busy with changing their own fate as they had no accountability towards the countrymen.
Not only that, BNP-Jamaat made Bangladesh champion for five times in corruption as well as created terrorism, militancy and Bangla Bhai in the country, she added.
"Whenever the anti-liberation forces, she said, came to power, they destroyed all the achievements of the country," she said.
Reaffirming her government's firm determination to build a hunger and poverty-free Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu, she said the electricity generation got a momentum since the Awami League-led government took office in 1996.
"Our government made the power sector multifaceted alongside opening the sector in the private sector," she said and hoped that the people would keep in mind the success of her government in increasing power generation capacity.
The prime minister urged the people to maintain austerity in using electricity, saying that the government is selling power at a price three/four times less than the production cost. "Don't misuse electricity, maintain austerity," she said.
Highlighting various steps of her government for the development of the country, Sheikh Hasina said massive programmes in the communication sector were implemented for improving the living standard and livelihood of the people as well as ensure their education, healthcare and housing.
PM's Energy Adviser Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu spoke at the function from Ganabhaban.
Law Minister Advocate Anisul Haque, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing on the Ministry of Power M Tazul Islam, Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah HM Al Mutairi, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Bangladesh Adel Mohammed A.H. Hayat and senior officials of the Saudi Export Programme and Saudi Fund for Development were present at Ganabhaban.
Power Division Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus gave an overview on the power sector development through a power point presentation, while PM's Principal Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury moderated the function at Ganabhaban.
The prime minister later exchanged views with cross section of people including public representatives, Awami League leaders, officials of the administration and the beneficiaries through videoconferencing.
Power Division sources said with 10 upazilas today, a total of 36 upazilas of the country have so far been brought under cent percent electricity coverage.
