KUTUBDIA, COX'S BAZAR, July 30, 2023 (BSS) - The Kutubdia island is now sparkling in the Bay of Bengal as it turned into lighthouse of the sea after being illuminated as part of fulfilling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's pledge to light every house of the country. 

"Once plunged into darkness at dusk, Kutubdia has now become a lighthouse of the Bay of Bengal with getting electricity connection since April last," Upazila Nirbahi Officer Dipankar Tanchangya told a news briefing here recently.

The people of the island was excited who are now leaning to small business as they are contacting for approval of fish and ice industries, he said.

Massive changes have come in every sector like education, healthcare, livelihoods and business with getting the electricity connection.

The BSS correspondent found huge socio-economic advancement as small industries and markets thrive. 

Now various government and private development activities including constructing of industries, fish storage and cold storage are progressing rapidly as business is expanding fast, sources said.

People get fair price of various agricultural products including sea fish, dried fruit, salt, watermelon, betel nut produced in the island as they are now connected to other parts of the country due to communication development after illumination, they said.

Markets are open till midnight while people are also seen gossiping in the markets at 11pm.

Lights are now driving away the darkness of night as the island has been connected to the national grid since last April by submarine cable.

Even a few months ago, pregnant mothers would have to take to Chakria or Cox's Bazar by risking the rough waves of the sea. 

"But, scenario is changed now. The pregnant mothers don't need to go beyond the island crossing the sea anymore," Tanchangya said. 

The operation theater has been opened in the 50-bed government hospital after being illuminated every house of the country, he said, adding now cesarean operation is being done here. 

Lifestyle of some 200,000 people of the island with an area of 215.80 square kilometers consisting of six unions, have changed a lot since getting electricity connection.

The 33 KV line has been constructed from Matarbari in Maheshkhali of Cox's Bazar to Magnama Ghat.

From there, electricity is supplied to Kutubdia by constructing a 5 km double circuit submarine line with fiber optic under the sea.

Some 2 km distribution line has been constructed here to provide electricity at consumer level.

Because of electricity, there has been extensive socio-economic and economic development in almost all the upazilas.

Once the inhabitants of Kutubdia did not how the taste of the ice cream is.

Teenagers like Monir, Azad and Zakir of the locality said they did not know how the taste of ice cream was.

Ice-cream of Taka 3 lakh now is sold per day in the island of Kutubdia, sources said 

Residents said that once it lagged behind from the socio-economic development as there was no access to modern agriculture, education, and medical care. 

But, now islanders see various government and private development activities, they said.

Rahim, a 13 year old boy studying in class six said they can study easily since they got electricity connection in their houses.

Electricity connection also ensures security and increases working hours as people can reach home with safety thanks to street lights at night. 

The 'Hatia Island, Nijhum Island and Kutubdia Island 100 percent Reliable and Sustainable Electrification' project was undertaken in 2020 at a cost of around Tk 400 crore, according to the project sources.

The project expired in June this year. But before the scheduled time, the electricity reached Kutubdia Island.

Rakib, a farmer of Manoarkhali village, said: "Earlier, I used to run the generator with oil and charge my mobile phone. If there was no oil, one had to go to other’s house and charge it with solar electricity. Now I have electricity in my house."

64-year-old Bajal Karim of Ars Sikdarpara said, "Earlier I used to light the bulb with solar. Now rice is cooked in rice cooker in my house. I bought a fridge. I can keep the sea fish in the fridge."

Karim Uddin, a businessman at Baraghop market in Kutubdia Upazila Sadar, said the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has fulfilled the dreams of the people of Kutubdia. 

"I never thought that electricity would come to Kutubdia. We got electricity from April 12 night. Our lives have changed at lightning speed," he said.

Kutubdia is bounded by the Bay of Bengal on the three sides -North, West and South and Kutubdia Channel on the east. 

Salt harvesting is the main occupation of the Island. It has a lighthouse, sea beach and shrine of Qutub Auliya. 

There is no comparison to Kutubdia beach for sunset viewing. About 16 km long beach is located here. 

Another attraction of this beach is Gangchil. 

As a result of fish farming, a lot of gangchil comes here. Nature lovers flock there to see the sight of the wings fluttering.