That Bangladesh has achieved hundred per cent electricity coverage is a crucially important event in the country’s infrastructural development. This historic success made it possible to bring the entire population under power supply network – be they in cities or rural areas and plains, hills or remote offshore islands. With the announcement by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in this regard while inaugurating the Payra Power Plant in Patuakhali yesterday, the country opened a new chapter in its history of setting up a strong foundation of socio-economic progress. Bangladesh became the first country in South Asia to provide full electricity coverage.

The dimension of the success in power generation that the country achieved during the period of its existence as a separate state can be perceived from the fact that the country’s generation of electricity was only 300megawatts immediately after independence but now is in a position to generate more than 25,000MW. This came as a result of the tremendous successes in all fields of power generation infrastructure including increasing the number of power plants, extension of transmission line and setting up new grid sub-stations. The country will be more self-reliant in power generation after completion of the remaining under construction mega projects including the Rampal, Matarbari and Rooppur plants. These achievements already led to the per capita power consumption of 560kwh now from 220kwh in 2009. This amazing success was possible due to PM’s foresight as well as courage and determination, supported by appropriate plans and policies.

In this era of modern technology, strategy of fossil fuel based growth is going to be phased out gradually all over the world. Now electricity has become the prime driving force behind scientific and technological development. Bangladesh has correctly perceived the truth and planned its development accordingly.

The socio-economic growth so far has already opened for the country the gateway to a developing country status. The country’s enhanced capacity of power generation and wide electricity coverage will quicken Bangladesh’s pace next for the higher middle income country status and then that of a developed country. The country is on the right track and achievement of all these goals is just a matter of time.