Bangladesh: 230,000 Homes have Solar Now; 1 Million by 2012

DHAKA: Millions in Bangladesh are taking to solar power to light up their homes at night.

Officials said, over 230,000 rural households in Bangladesh have been brought under the solar power system in last five years by the Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (IDCOL).

Executive Director of IDCOL, a company under the Ministry of Finance, Ehsanul Haque yesterday told newsmen that they aim to install 1mn Solar Household Systems (SHSs) solar panels by 2012 to help government achieve its target of providing electricity to all by 2020.

“SHS system, containing photo voltaic panels, battery, charge controller, solar lamp and switch, is a convenient mode for supply of power for small electrical loads such as lights, radio, cassette players and black and white TV,” he said.

Although only available for a few hours in a day, the SHSs programme has positively changed the rural economy, he said.
“Now they are using SHS for income-generating activities and working hours have been increased for small businessmen, weavers, tailors, hair dressers, and makers of handicraft items,” IDCOL chief said.

In addition, the use of TV and radio has enhanced rural people’s access to the outer world. Many women opined that they were feeling more secure at night after installing SHSs, Ehsanul said.