The present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina provides a total of 2,25,722 electricity connections to rural establishments including households in 961 villages under ten upazilas of Netrakona district in last nine years, an official said on Saturday.
General Manager (GM) at Palli Bidduth Samity (PBS) of the region Mojibur Rahman said Rural Electrification Board (REB) and PBS Netrakona installed 3,871 kilometres of electric lines and four power sub-stations connecting 961 villages between 2009 and 2018 years to reach power at the doorsteps of people.
Then around 2,25,722 rural establishments including households, commercial hubs, agro-based industrial houses and educational, health care and other institutions in the district were brought under rural electrification network, he said.
Apart from this, electricity connection has been given to the rural hats, bazar, mosques, temples and other religious institutions, he added.
The official also said that the rural electrification network has created wider opportunities for the native people who are utilising different agro-based income generation initiatives by availing benefits of rural electrification boosting rural economy while improving their livelihood conditions.
While visiting villages brought under electrification network a correspondent found improved life style of the local people who are now using computers, internet, televisions, refrigerators and even air coolers.
Many villagers narrated their painful past saying that their villages used to plunge into darkness after the sunset and they were forced to remain in houses. But now situation has changed, BSS reported.
They expressed satisfaction and gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for taking special initiatives to electrify every house across the country.