- Access to electricity is important for a country’s development
- Bangladesh has made significant progress in improving access to electricity
Statistics on access to electricity in Bangladesh:
- In 1994, only 17.80% of the population had access to electricity
- There was a significant divide between urban and rural areas, with 75.20% of city dwellers having access compared to only 2.24% of rural residents
- Uneven distribution of power generation and transmission facilities was the main reason for this disparity
Improvements in access to electricity:
- As of 2020, 96.20% of Bangladeshis have access to electricity
- This growth can be attributed to the government’s efforts to improve access, such as building new power plants and expanding the national power grid
Narrowing of the urban-rural divide:
- In 2020, 97.80% of urban residents had access to electricity compared to 95.21% of rural residents
- This is a significant improvement from 1994 when the gap was much wider
- Government initiatives promoting renewable energy sources such as solar power have helped bring electricity to remote areas
Positive growth in access to electricity:
- Between 2010 and 2020, the annual percentage change in the population with access to electricity varied between 0.40% and 4.00%
- This indicates a stable and sustainable increase in electricity access
Impact of increased access to electricity:
- Improved access has facilitated improvements in healthcare, education, and communication
- It has also helped boost the economy by encouraging entrepreneurship and the development of small and medium-sized businesses
Remaining work to be done:
- The government needs to continue investing in renewable energy sources and expanding the national power grid
- This will help ensure electricity reaches even the most remote areas of the country and bridge the gap between urban and rural areas