Electricity connection should be increased by 30 percent yearly: UNCTAD

Bangladesh is in backward position in power sector among the Least Developed Countries (LDC) in Asia. That means the people of Bangladesh are getting less electricity comparing to other countries. This information was published by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) following observation of the year 2014. To attain self sufficiency in the sector the organization suggested for increasing electricity connection yearly 20 to 30 percent.

Research organization Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) delivered the information sourcing UNCTAD at a program at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital on Wednesday.

CPD Executive Director Dr. Fahmida Khatun said, for sustainable power sector emphasis should be given on renewable energy. For this private sector has to come forward along with the government investment.

However, some information of the report is not consistent to the present situation. Such as the report said, 60 percent population is under electricity connection coverage. But according to the last statistics of the government 80 percent people are under the facility of electricity coverage in Bangladesh.

Fahmida Khatun said, to attain the target of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) the World Bank set targets in power and energy sectors for the least developed countries in Asia. Among the countries Nepal and Bhutan have achieved great progress in power sector. They have nearly touched the electricity connection providing target.

The Awami League government has taken huge development initiatives in power sector after they came to power in 2009 under the situation of severe power crisis. Of the projects there are short, medium and long term initiatives. Initiatives have been taken to construct nuclear power plant for the first time, coal based large power stations to be set up by reducing dependency on gas.

AH/Y