Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku on Thursday said that the government will provide the necessary funds to extend electricity connections to rural households that remain without power.
He said the rural electricity cooperatives had been instructed to estimate the cost of connecting households in areas proposed by Members of Parliament (MPs).
The minister made the remarks in response to a question from Patuakhali-4 MP ABM Mosharraf Hossain in parliament on Thursday.
Mosharraf Hossain said that although most households in many villages have access to electricity, some remain without connections.
During election campaigns, promises were made to bring these households under the electricity network, but local electricity offices have been unable to provide the connections, citing a shortage of funds.
In response, Tuku said rural electricity cooperatives had been asked to assess the cost of providing new connections in areas proposed by MPs.
MPs who have already submitted proposals have been asked to obtain cost estimates from the respective rural electricity authorities. Other lawmakers are also being encouraged to submit proposals, he added.
The minister said arranging the necessary funds would take some time, but expressed optimism that electricity connections could eventually be extended to all villages.
