Friendship, a social purpose organisation, launched the first solar grid on Bangladesh’s remote char regions on Sunday via an online conference.
State Minister for energy and power Nasrul Hamid inaugurated the micro-grid at Goynar Potol, and said this can be a solution to the areas where dependable grid systems are not possible. He said the government promises to connect remote areas with electricity.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossain, Member of the Parliament Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, and Deputy CEO & CFO of Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) S. M. Monirul Islam attended the programme as special guests. The 54 kilowatt solar-powered micro-grid will bring electricity to the people of Goynar Potol, an alluvial island (locally called char) in the north of Bangladesh, located in Nayerhat Union, Chilmari sub-district, Kurigram District.
The implementation of this "solar village" is the latest intervention in this sandbar island, home to over 3000 IDPs or Internally Displaced Persons.
Friendship founder executive director Runa Khan said it was one of the organisation’s flagship locations for its holistic, integrated development solutions that work together to alleviate poverty, empower people, save lives and enact climate actions to give people from marginalised communities lives of dignity, opportunity and hope.
This electrical microgrid was funded by the ENGIE Foundation and designed with the technical support of volunteers from Energy Assistance France (the ENGIE Group's internal NGO).
Currently, the Friendship solar-powered grid supplies electricity to 114 households, including the Friendship "plinth" (an elevated area of land above the flood line that serves as a shelter during floods), the local market composed of 24 shops, a mosque, Friendship Legal Booth (a small office where people can receive legal advice), Friendship Primary School, the Friendship Weaving Centre, Sewing Centre.
Eventually, all the inhabitants of Goynar Potol (about 40 more households) will be connected to the micro-grid. This represents over 3,000 beneficiaries.
The micro-grid will provide each of the households with enough wattage to power six lamps, two pedestal fans, a TV and a cell phone charger. In addition, Friendship plans to install two irrigation pumps powered by renewable energy from the micro-grid, Friendship said.
