by Syed Altefat Hossain 
 
PATUAKHALI, March 21, 2022 (BSS) - The government campaign of bringing the 
entire country under the 100 per cent electrification marking the 'Mujib 
Year' has illuminated all the islands across the country, fulfilling the 
long-cherished dream of the backward section of people. 
 
Since every house across the country, including Sonarampur, Ashuganj, 
Rangabali, Monpura, Sandwip, Hatia, Nijhum Island and Kutubdia islands, have 
been brought under the cent per cent electricity, Prime Minister Sheikh 
Hasina today declared the cent per cent electrification coverage in the 
country.
 
The premier made the announcement at the inaugural function of the Payra 
1320MW Thermal Power Plant at Kalapara Upazila here.
 
While visiting the Char Mantaj, on the bank of Tetulia River about 10 
kilometres away from the Rangabali Upazila near the basin of the Bay of 
Bengal, Julekha Begum was seen doing household chores under an overhead 
electricity transmission line. 
 
"It's just like a dream for us. We never thought that electric light would 
illuminate us," she said. 
 
Julekha, wife of a fisherman, expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister 
Sheikh Hasina for materializing their long-cherished dream of living under 
electric lights. 
 
Expressing gratitude to the Premier, Alamgir Hossain, a shopkeeper in 
Rangabali Upazila, said this electricity has enabled them to enjoy urban 
facilities staying in remote areas, which is about 10 kilometres away from 
the mainland. 
 
He said this electricity facility is helping boost the rural economy, 
creating new scopes for employment, such as setting up factories and new 
businesses in the islands, along with facilitating education.
 
According to the Rangabali Upazila Rural Electrification Board office, a 
total of 25,358 families of 104 villages in six unions (each an island) in 
the upazila have been brought under the 100 per cent electricity coverage 
within 14 months from September 30, 2020, to November 30, 2021, marking the 
birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.  
 
During the period, the government established 26 kilometre-long 33kv overhead 
transmission lines, 5.8-kilometre-long submarine cable under the Tetulia and 
Kajal/Bura Gauranga riverbeds, a 10MVA power substation 1,241 kilometre-long 
11KV line and 5.38 kilometre-long 11 KV submarine cable under the Galachipa 
and Tetulia riverbeds at a cost of Taka 250 crore.

Rangabali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Mashfakur Rahman said the whole upazila 
has been brought under the cent per cent electricity within only 14 months as 
part of the government's inclusive development activities. 

He said the electricity facility in the island Upazila has rapidly changed 
the outlook of the chars as it has created huge scopes for new employment. 

Noting that the upazila has around 14,000 fishermen, he said earlier they had 
to bring ice from Golachipa or other parts of the district for preserving 
fish, but the electricity has helped to set up ice factories in the islands, 
thus, fishermen are getting ice easily. 
 
"Besides, many people started the business of electric products, which was 
unimaginable just one year back," Mashfakur said, adding that electricity is 
also playing a vital role in boosting the production of agricultural goods. 
 
Farmers of Rangabali upazila approximately produced watermelon worth of Taka 
500 crore in the last year, he said, adding it has been possible for 
irrigation and the irrigation was possible for availability of electricity.