Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday again reiterated her government's commitment to provide electricity to every house by producing electricity from different sources.

"We'll provide electricity connection to each house of the country, enabling our children across the country to read and learn through modern education. Every area of the country will be developed ... we believe in balanced development," she said.

The PM made the comment while inaugurating the 100 percent electricity supply programme and four power plants through a videoconference from the Gono Bhaban.

The upazilas which have already been brought under 100 percent electricity coverage are Faridpur Sadar, Rajoir, Naogaon Sadar, Kamarkhand, Akhaura, Brahmanbaria Sadar, Shalikha, Meherpur Sadar, Madon and Belabo.

The new power plants inaugurated by the PM are Shikalbaha 225MW plant, Chapainawabganj 100MW plant, Salla 400KW solar plant and Sarishabari 3MW solar plant.

Hasina said increasing power production was essential, but this was not only for the urban people.

"Our target is rural areas where grassroots people live; we want to light up their houses, provide healthcare, education and improve their lifestyle."

Recalling the deplorable condition of power production in 1996, Hasina said when the Awami League took office, there was only 1,600MW of power production. "Only a few people enjoyed the facility of electricity while the entire rural areas were in darkness."

She said the then AL government formulated a law and invited the private sector to power generation, aiming to meet the power demand and waived all taxes on the import of generators. "With our time-befitting steps, we have been able to improve the power generation from 1,600MW to 4,300MW."

But she regretted that when the AL came to power again in 2009, she saw that the power generation was reduced to 3,200MW.

The PM mentioned that the government in 2009 set a target to go for producing power quickly as part of a government plan to improve the national grid and other supply lines.

“Considering the growing demand of power, we're moving to diversified sources of power production. We're now getting power from solar, nuclear, coal and oil-based sources alongside importing electricity from India to meet the demand."

Hasina said the country is now producing 16,150MW of electricity and 83 percent people of the country enjoy electricity.

PM's Energy Adviser Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury and State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid also spoke at the programme.

After the inaugural programme, the PM talked to a cross-section of people via videoconference.