Dhaka: The government has announced plans to initiate a third-phase solar power project aimed at achieving full electrification in the remote hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachhari. The Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs is set to spearhead the five-year project, scheduled to run from 2026 to 2031, focusing on delivering electricity to remote areas where extending the grid is both challenging and costly.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, officials from the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs highlighted that unreliable electricity has been a persistent hindrance to education, agriculture, and socio-economic development in these remote hill areas. Consequently, off-grid solar power has been identified as the most practical and sustainable solution. However, deliberations are ongoing regarding whether the project will be managed by the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs or the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
The proposal gained attention at the Deputy Commissioners' Conference, where the Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati advocated for a dedicated project to ensure uninterrupted electricity and complete electrification of the hill districts. Subsequently, the Cabinet Division sought input from relevant ministries to evaluate the project's feasibility.
Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, informed BSS that the project has been incorporated into the Annual Development Programme (ADP) as an unapproved "Green Leaf" project, indicating preliminary policy recognition. It may eventually be developed into a full Development Project Proposal (DPP). Rahman stated, "If the project is approved under the DPP, implementation will begin in 2026 and continue until 2031."
Both the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs have submitted individual proposals to the Planning Commission to expand electricity coverage in the hill districts. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has underscored the importance of expanding renewable energy to tackle global energy challenges. On July 26, he announced the government's favorable consideration of solar power generation on uncultivable land in tea gardens and assured financial support for renewable energy initiatives.
The Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) reported in June that the second phase of the solar electrification project in the Chittagong Hill Tracts has been completed. Nonetheless, many remote settlements remain without electricity despite the project's completion. The report cited the region's challenging topography, dense forests, and inadequate transport infrastructure as factors rendering grid expansion highly expensive and technically difficult. Consequently, off-grid solar photovoltaic systems have been deemed the most effective, practical, and sustainable solution for providing electricity to remote communities.
The second-phase project, titled "Electricity Supply through Installation of Solar Panels (Phase II)," was implemented from July 2020 to June 2023, with an estimated cost of Tk 21771 lakh. Field-level assessments revealed that the project significantly improved the quality of life for beneficiary households, providing them access to lighting and mobile phone charging facilities.