By Sanjeeb Chanda Biltu

SHERPUR, April 21,  2022 (BSS) - The dreams of Sherpur people come into reality as every house of the district is now illuminated as part of implementation of Awami League’s electoral pledges of countrywide 100  per cent coverage of electricity .
 
The habit of politicians is to assure of doing many things before election. In continuation of that, Sherpur people were also given many pledges by politicians before the last national election. But Awami League (AL)’s promise of bringing every house under electrification was something astounding to the people of the district.
 
At last, the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina kept her word by fulfilling their dream. Now, electricity in every house is not a dream, but a reality. The government has implemented its election manifesto by illuminating every house of 52 unions under four municipalities of the district.

Executive Engineer of PDB (Power Development Board)  Subrata Roy said the number of consumers  was 13,621 in 2008 while the same  now  stood at 44,505.

 The power connections in irrigation  now stands at  1,758 in 2022 from 715 in 2008, he said, adding the system loss has come down to 7.93 per cent from 16.16 per cent.
The number of transformers was 145 while the number is now 311, he said.

Roy said prepaid meters were set up in 34,500 power connections of PDB and works of setting up meters in other connections are going on. Sub grid of 132/33 KV was set up in Gazarikhamar union which is five kilometres away from the district, he added.
The farmers are also getting power for their irrigation, he added.
 
Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board general manager at Sherpur Engineer Md Ali Hossain said the number of power consumers under the board was 37,847 in 2008 while the number is now 2,46,214.

 He said there were 1,633 kms electric lines in 2008 while it is now 4,147 kms. The system loss was 16.92 per cent in 2008 while it is now 11.48 per cent, he added.

PDB superintendent of Sherpur-Jamalpur Engineer Md Faruk Hossain said the power supply situation in Sherpur was very dismal  before 2008 as only 20-30 megawatts of power were being supplied in the district.
 
“ At present, we are able to supply power uninterruptedly  across the district. And it is possible only by   the Awami League government . Which brought revolutionary changes in industry, trade and agriculture sectors,” he added.

 An inhabitant   of Noyani Bazar Swapna Rani said, “We get relief from ghost  electricity bill because of installing prepaid meter. It is  cost effective  and hassle free public utility service  initiated by  the present government.”

Habibullah Master of Boliarchar union of Sadar upazila said, “We never thought that we would get power in our region. But we got the power for the unprecedented successes of the present government.”

Panjal Sangma, who lives in deep forest in Garo Mountain, said, “We have never seen electricity here. But, now the power was connected to every house in mountain due to farsighted leadership of the government.”

Deputy Commissioner Md Mominur Rashid said the unprecedented success in the power sector of the present government will be written in golden letters in the pages of history. The system loss has been reduced and the volume of collecting outstanding has increased, he added.

Awami League district unit president and Whip Md Atiur Rahman Atiq said, “As per the election manifesto, we brought all houses under cent per cent electrification in the district in the beginning of the year.
 
The consumers are also knowing different information and able to pay electric bills and recharge meters from their homes for digitalization. Now the people are getting services from their home. ‘Electricity for All’ is one of the ten special initiatives,  envisioned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to attain the Sustainable Development Goals.”