Engineer M. Hossain
One hundred twenty-five years ago, the ruler of Bhawal in Gazipur, a part of East Bengal (now Bangladesh) under British India, made a significant stride in history. He demonstrated the early adoption of electricity by illuminating his palace with a generator imported from England, a feat that still intrigues and impresses us today. This historical milestone, along with the subsequent electrification of Ahsan Manzil in 1901, marks the initiation of electrification in Bangladesh. These early achievements connect us to the past and inspire us to continue the journey toward a fully electrified nation. In 1919, DEVCO introduced a commercial power distribution system in Dhaka. 1933, the “Dhanmondi Power House” was constructed, boasting a 6 MW capacity. After the 1947 partition, private enterprises, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, undertook power generation and distribution. Power supply to 17 districts was restricted to 400 volts, primarily during nighttime. Two 1.5 MW generators powered Dhaka City, while the national generation capacity stood at a mere 21 MW with no established transmission system.
The Electricity Directorate was set up in 1948 to improve power supply. In 1957, the government acquired all private powerhouses and transmission lines. In 1959, the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) was formed. In 1960, the Electricity Directorate merged with WAPDA. Various power plants were built, including the Siddhirganj 10 MW steam turbine power plant. In 1962, the Karnaphuli hydropower plant began generating electricity from its two 40 MW capacity units. The construction of the Kaptai dam and the commissioning of the Kaptai-Siddhirganj 132 KV transmission line in 1962 were significant milestones in the country’s power development. Following its declaration of independence in 1971, Bangladesh undertook the responsibility for power generation, transmission, and distribution, commencing with an initial installed capacity of 547 MW. Only three years and six months of Ruling by Bangabandhu added a newly installed capacity of 219 MW, and the total capacity for the 1975-76 financial year was 766 MW.
In 1990, fifty percent of the total electricity consumption in Bangladesh was concentrated in the capital, Dhaka, and its surrounding areas. Following the formation of Sheikh Hasina’s first government on June 23, 1996, an initiative to enhance the electricity transmission and distribution system was launched. The Government of Bangladesh established the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh on November 21, 1996, as a distinct entity from the Bangladesh Power Development Board. Upon assuming control in 1996, the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh managed 838 circuit kilometers for 230 kilovolt transmission lines and 4,755 circuit kilometers for 132 kilovolt transmission lines. When Sheikh Hasina handed over to the Caretaker government of Bangladesh in 2001, these figures had increased to 1,144 circuit kilometers for 230 kilovolt transmission lines and 4,962 circuit kilometers for 132 kilovolt transmission lines.
In the early twenty-first century, the progress of Bangladesh’s electricity sector experienced a notable deceleration. The BNP-Jamaat coalition government’s failure to execute timely decisions at the policy-making level, coupled with corruption and a shortage of investments from donor agencies, led to a mere addition of 80 megawatts to the national grid from 2001 to 2006. Concurrently, nationwide electricity demand witnessed an annual escalation of approximately 400 to 500 megawatts. By October 2005, the daily nationwide load shedding ranged between 500 to 900 megawatts. Subsequently, in May 2006, load shedding surpassed 1,000 megawatts, while the peak electricity demand escalated to 4,200 megawatts. The level of load shedding exceeded 1,624 megawatts in the subsequent year. This epoch marked a pivotal juncture in the annals of Bangladesh, particularly in Kansat, Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj district, where the BNP-Jamaat coalition government indiscriminately deployed force against the general populace. During this phase, many residents, particularly in Shanishkha, consistently articulated their grievances through public demonstrations, emphasizing the acute necessity for electricity and water resources.
Since assuming office on January 6, 2009, the Bangladesh Awami League has achieved significant advancements in the nation’s power sector. Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh reached 100% electrification on March 21, 2022, marking a pivotal milestone for South Asia. The percentage of the electrified populace surged from 47% during Sheikh Hasina’s administration to 100%, encompassing even remote areas such as Manpura Island. The uninterrupted power supply has catalyzed industrial expansion and increased GDP. In 2009, the per capita income stood at US$759, escalating to US$2,784. Moreover, in 2009, the nation possessed only 27 power plants, but this number increased by 125 in a mere 15 years. Currently, 152 power plants are operational in the country, with several substantial facilities awaiting inauguration.
In 2009, Bangladesh’s power generation capacity stood at 4,942 MW, reaching a maximum of 3,268 MW on January 6. However, significant advancements have been made since then. As of April 30, 2024, under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, the power generation capacity has surged to 31,520 MW, with the peak generation amounting to 16,477 MW. This indicates a substantial increase of 13,209 MW in power generation. Bangladesh’s total transmission line was a mere 8,000 circuit kilometers in 2009. Through strategic initiatives led by Sheikh Hasina, an additional 7,636 circuit kilometers of transmission lines have been installed, raising the total to 15,636. Furthermore, in 2009, Bangladesh’s grid substation capacity was recorded at 15,870 MVA. However, with government initiatives, an additional 55,649 MVA has been integrated into the national grid, resulting in a total capacity of 71,519 MVA.
Before 2009, Bangladesh had yet to engage in the import of electricity. The Bangladesh Awami League government spearheaded this initiative, facilitating the integration of 1000 MW into Bangladesh’s national grid via Kushtia’s Bheramara. Furthermore, an additional 160 MW was procured from Tripura to Comilla and from the Adani Power Limited, Godda, Jharkhand, India. Moreover, 1496 MW of electricity has been directly connected to the national grid of Bangladesh through Rohonpur in Chapainawabganj. At present, Bangladesh imports 2,656 MW of electricity from India. On June 11, 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved a proposal to import 40 megawatts of hydropower from Nepal. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina initiated the plan to import 500 MW of hydropower from Nepal through the GMR Power of India. They had reached an understanding and were prepared to sign an agreement to import 500 MW of power from the Karnali Hydropower plant in Nepal.
Furthermore, the preceding Awami League government had planned to acquire hydropower from Bhutan, North-East India, and hydropower and thermal power from Myanmar for Bangladesh. It is noteworthy that hydropower production declines during winter due to reduced water flow, leading to a decrease in Bangladesh’s electricity demand during this period, resulting in the export of electricity to Nepal, Bhutan, North-East India, and Myanmar. Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, the government aims to interconnect the national grids of other countries, such as India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar, to reduce the frequency range of the national grid. This objective will be accomplished by implementing FGMO (Frequency Governor Mode of Operation) and AGC (Automatic Generation Control).
Between 2009 and 2024, the extent of electrified distribution lines rose from 260,000 kilometers to 383,167.54 kilometers, culminating in 643,167.54 kilometers. During the same period, per capita electricity production escalated from 220 kilowatt-hours (units) in 2009 to 602 kilowatt-hours (units) in the fiscal year 2022-2023. The number of electricity customers surged from 10,800,000 in 2009 to 36,300,000 and is projected to reach 47,100,000 by May 31, 2024. Irrigation is paramount in the pursuit of food self-sufficiency within the country. In 2009, 234,000 irrigation connections were established, and an additional 253,000 connections were established under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, resulting in a total of 487,000 irrigation connections. The preceding administration achieved a notable reduction in distribution system losses, diminishing from 14.33% in the fiscal year 2008-2009 to 7.65% in 2022-2023. The annual development program allocation for the electricity sector burgeoned from a mere 26.77 billion Taka to 337.1726 billion Taka for the fiscal year 2024-2025. Sheikh Hasina’s government has made substantial strides in advancing the electricity sector.
The Power Sector has been honored with the “Freedom Award 2022” for its significant contribution to the country’s socio-economic development through achieving 100% electrification. Additionally, it has been acknowledged for completing 100% electrification during the Mujib year. In the 1972 Constitution, Article 16 proclaimed electrification as a fundamental principle of state governance. Bangladesh became the 33rd nation to harness nuclear power using the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. Furthermore, it has emerged as the 13th country to adopt Ultra-supercritical technology in coal-based power plants.
Engineer M. Hossain, Fellow of The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh