REB to ensure electricity to all rural people by 2021

In a span of last six years from 2009 to 2014, REB got a total of 41 lakh new consumers with a growth of 56 percent, by installing 61,000 kilometre new lines rising by 28 percent, for supplying 3642 MW of electricity in rural areas.
The data was revealed in a convention of the REB styled ‘DGM Convention-2015’ at the REB Headquarters at Khilkhet in the city.
Brig Gen Main Uddin, Chairman of REB, presided over the convention and also presented the keynote paper through a multimedia presentation at the convention.
The REB chairman mentioned that rapid electrification of the rural part of Bangladesh would expedite the economic development which still mainly depends upon the agriculture of the country.
Main Uddin said the country is nowadays self-sufficient in food production and behind this success there is a great contribution of officials and employees of the REB across the country, because they work hard to supply power for irrigation and other purposes.
The country’s economic growth will not accelerate unless we can ensure economic development of the rural people,” he said.
He said REB has every preparation to meet the set target to provide electricity as the government is providing all necessary cooperation in this regard. The government passed about 8 to 9 projects in the last 7 months.
Through our all-out initiative, system loss will come down remarkably within next 2 to 3 years at the same time hooking up and side connection will also be controlled,” he said.
Mentioning that currently there have 22 profitable PBS and 50 loosing PBS, the chairman advised the concerned officials to take all-out efforts through honesty, sincerity and devotion to turn the unprofitable PBSs profitable.
The keynote paper said within the year 2018, the REB would set up 3,90,000km distribution line, raising the transmission capacity to 14,300 MVA (+6000). The board would supply 54 lakhs of pre-paid meters, 2 lakhs of solar irrigation pumps to rural consumers and reduce system loss to 9 percent and increase the number of profitable PBSs at 50 (+28).
REB also aims to provide connection against all the pending applications. “The REB administration will follow zero’ tolerance in terms of any corruption. We have already demoted some officials as they had been proved as corrupt and inefficient,” the chairman added.
Member (PBS) Abdus Sattar Biswas, other members, directors, concerned senior officials and nearly 300 deputy general managers (DGM) from across the country participated in the daylong convention.