Solar panels light up houses in remote areas

Solar panels have lit up the lives of the poor villagers in the remote areas of Islampur upazila in Jamalpur district who could not afford power connections.

Bishwajit, a meritorious Class-IX student at Patharshi village in the upazila, belongs to one such family. “I had never expected to see electricity in my house. It will not only help me study better but also help my family members do the housework,” he smiled.

According to Islampur Upazila project implementation office sources, 62 solar panels have been set up in 12 unions in Islampur upazila under the Test Relief (TR) and the Work for Money programmes.

All of them have been set up in the remote ‘char’ areas in the upazila.

Of the panels, 35 have been set up in houses, 15 in mosques, three in temples, and nine in non-government educational institutions. Sources said the solar panels were supplying 75 to 220 watts of electricity to the consumers.

They added that Tk. 2,626,700 was spent on the solar panel project in 2016–2017. Of that, Tk. 1,113,500 came from the TR programme, and Tk. 1,513,200 from the Work for Money programme.

The MP of Jamalpur, Mahjabin Khaled Baby, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has launched the solar panel project to take electricity to every household. The project will continue, she added.

Solar panels light up houses in remote areas

Solar panels have lit up the lives of the poor villagers in the remote areas of Islampur upazila in Jamalpur district who could not afford power connections. Bishwajit, a meritorious Class-IX student at Patharshi village in the upazila, belongs to one such family. I had never expected to see electricity in my house. It will not only help me study better but also help my family members do the housework, he smiled. According to Islampur Upazila project implementation office sources, 62 solar panels have been set up in 12 unions in Islampur upazila under the Test Relief (TR) and the Work for Money programmes. All of them have been set up in the remote char areas in the upazila. Of the panels, 35 have been set up in houses, 15 in mosques, three in temples, and nine in non-government educational institutions. Sources said the solar panels were supplying 75 to 220 watts of electricity to the consumers. They added that Tk. 2,626,700 was spent on the solar panel project in 20162017. Of that, Tk. 1,113,500 came from the TR programme, and Tk. 1,513,200 from the Work for Money programme. The MP of Jamalpur, Mahjabin Khaled Baby, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has launched the solar panel project to take electricity to every household. The project will continue, she added.