Home ›› 21 May 2023 ›› Nation
Rural electrification in Tangail’s Bhuapur upazila brings positive changes to thousands of people living in remote char (shoal) areas of the district.
The only way to travel to Arjuna and Gabshara unions of the upazila is on foot during the dry season and by boat during monsoon. The rural electrification board used submarine cables to get electricity to the remote char islands of the unions.
According to Jamalpur Rural Electrification Board, 9 km of 33 KV and 11 km of 11 KV lines were constructed through submarine cable through the bottom of Jamuna to include 20,000 families of Arjuna and Gabshara union under the electricity facility in early 2022.
As a result, 20,346 houses now have electricity. Over 50,000 are directly benefitting from electricity service.
Jamalpur Rural Electrification Board Sarishabari Zonal Office Deputy Manager Nurul Huda said grid lines have been constructed by using submarine cables through the bed of Jamuna.
Even a few years ago residents of remote char lands of Jamuna River in Arjuna and Gabshara unions of the upazila could not imagine getting all kinds of facilities of electricity.
Member of Parliament of Tangail-2 (Gopalpur-Bhuapur) Constituency Tanvir Hasan Soto Monir said he thought about electrification when he first visited the char areas.
“I made a promise to bring electricity to every house in the area. After being elected as a Member of Parliament, I strongly demanded it in the Parliament session,” he said, adding that it has been possible to deliver his promise as a result of the continuous development of the current government.
Impact on the lives of the locals
Several lakh residents of these areas were deprived of basic facilities due to a lack of electricity. The lives of the locals have gradually started to change for the better as now they have more opportunities in all aspects of life.
Residents do not have to depend on primitive sources of light including candles or kerosene lanterns after dark. According to locals, crime rates have also gone down in the area due to electrification.
They can also enjoy entertainment facilities such as television which was a rarity before, or use refrigerators to store food.
Electrification has had a positive impact on education as children are able to study comfortably after dark.
Small and cottage industries are also being set up in the area, creating more employment opportunities. This has helped especially the women of the area to become self-dependent.
Sultan Mia of Rehai Gabshara village said they had never dreamt of having electricity in a rural community.
“Now not only do we have lights and fans, but I also bought a television and a fridge. The fear of theft during the dark of night has also been reduced a lot thanks to street lamps,” he said.
Farmer Eshak Mandal of Punglipara village said electricity has made irrigation during the dry season easier for them.
“Crops like wheat, corn and paddy require regular irrigation. Previously we used to irrigate our lands with diesel-run pumps but due to oil price hikes, production costs were getting higher. Now thanks to accessible electricity, production cost has lowered and our profits are increasing,” Eshak said.
Ayesha Begum of Choto Nalchiapara village said electricity has given her the opportunity to become self-dependent.
“Our sole income from farming was not enough to run the household. I used to sew clothes to make some extra profit but it was hard to work after dark with a lantern. Now I can work comfortably and provide for my family,” she added.
Arjuna Begum of Megharpatal village said the lack of electricity had previously hampered the education of their children. “Now the village children can comfortably study even after the evening. Electricity has brightened our homes and our future.”
