The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $175 million concessional loan to expand reliable and affordable electricity access in Bangladesh’s Chattogram Hill Tracts, with the project expected to connect at least 88,000 additional households by 2032.
The Sustainable Energy Development and Community Empowerment Project will modernize distribution networks across 26 remote upazilas in Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban.
It includes six new 33/11 kV substations, 5,032 km of new distribution lines and upgrades to 1,874 km of existing lines. The improvements are expected to reduce system losses, strengthen grid resilience and avoid at least 19,300 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions annually.
Grid access in the three hill districts remains well below Bangladesh’s national electrification rate.
The project aims to raise regional access to 68% by 2032 while preparing the network for renewable energy sources such as solar and pico-hydropower.
