Live Correspondent: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today expressed her hope that all the upazilas of the country will come under cent percent electrification coverage by 2021, as the government has been working to illuminate all the homes across the country.

“We hope to give cent percent electricity across the country within the “Mujib Borsho” to be observed from March 2020 to March 2021 marking the birth centenary celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she said.

The prime minister said this while inaugurating seven power plants, that added 790 megawatt power to the national grid, and complete electrification at 23 upazilas, through a videoconference from her official residence Ganabhaban here.

“As many as 234 upazilas have so far been brought under cent percent electrification coverage with opening the seven power plants and bringing 23 upazilas under complete electrification,” she said. The premier said 94 percent people have been brought under the electricity coverage as the power generation now stands at 22562 megawatt.

Taking a swipe at the BNP-Jamaat government for taking the country backward, she said, “After assuming office in 1996, we only got 1600 MW electricity and we increased the figure to 4300 MW. But, the power generation had reduced to 3200 MW after the BNP took office in 2001”.

The 23 upazilas which came under cent percent electricity coverage are: Gabtali, Sherpur and Shibganj in Bogura district, Lohagara in Chattogram, Madhukhali, Nagarkanda and Saltha in Faridpur district, Fulchhari, Gaibandha Sadar and Palashbari in Gaibandha district, Madhappur and Nabiganj in Habiganj district, Kaliganj and Maheshpur in Jhenaidah district, Karimganj under Kishoreganj, Baraigram, Lalpur and Singra under Natore district, Barhatta and Mahonganj in Netrakona district, Bhandaria, Kaukhali and Indurkani under Pirojpur district

Deputy Speaker Md. Fazle Rabbi Miah, Prime Minister’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Affairs Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid and Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Md. Shahiduzzaman Sarker, were present on the dais.

Railways Minister Md. Nurul Islam Sujan, PM’s Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Mahbub Ali, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak and State Minister for Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Md. Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru were present on the occasion.

She asked the authorities concerned to take better efforts to ensure smooth distribution and transmission to bring all the houses under the cent percent electrification coverage. The premier stressed the need for protecting arable lands to ensure food security and said, “We have already achieved food security.”

The prime minister said her government has been working for welfare of the people as the Father of the Nation wanted to make the livelihood of the people standard making Bangladesh as a country free from hunger and poverty.

Putting emphasis on implementing the electoral commitments, the premier said her government is determined to executing all the electoral pledges as the people of the country voted her party to power for the third consecutive term due to huge development work carried out by her government.

Dhaka 13 November (campuslive24.com)//AMI