Tapashi Rabeya Akhi, BSS
The government is planning a third-phase solar power project to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply and achieve 100 percent electrification in the remote areas of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari districts.
The proposed five-year project, scheduled for implementation from 2026 to 2031, has been included in the preliminary planning of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs. Officials said off-grid solar power remains the most practical and cost-effective solution for remote hill areas where extending the national grid is technically challenging and expensive.
Officials said it is yet to be decided whether the project will be implemented by the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs or the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mohammad Mizanur Rahman told BSS that the proposal has been listed as an unapproved “green sheet” project under the Annual Development Program (ADP). If approved by the Planning Commission, it will move forward for detailed project preparation and implementation.
According to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), the second phase of solar electrification has already been completed, but many remote hill communities still remain without electricity. The agency noted that off-grid solar photovoltaic systems are the most sustainable option for expanding electricity access in the geographically challenging region.
The proposed project is expected to improve access to electricity, support education and agricultural activities, and accelerate socio-economic development in the Chattogram Hill Tracts.
