Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government has taken various projects for the development of the country's power sector to ensure electricity for all by 2021 at an affordable price.

The PM was opening eight power plants having 1,375 MW production capacity alongside new transmission and distribution lines from her official residence Gono Bhaban through videoconferencing. She also inaugurated cent percent electrification in 10 upazilas of the country and first-ever electricity connection to Thanchi upazila in Bandarban district.

The 10 upazilas are Keraniganj and Savar in Dhaka, Tongibari in Munshiganj, Kotalipara in Gopalganj, Bhuapur in Tangail, Karnaphuli in Chittagong, Daganbhuiyan in Feni, Kuliarchar in Kishoreganj, Mujibnagar in Meherpur and Syedpur in Rangpur.

The premier said in the last eight years, the power sector witnessed a tremendous progress.

Describing electricity as an important component to free the country from poverty, she said that is why the government has put importance to the development of this sector.

She again urged everybody to maintain austerity in using electricity and check misuse of electricity as the government is giving huge subsidy for its production. Secretary of the Power Division Dr Ahmad Kaikaus presented a video presentation on the present condition and future plan of the power sector.

Earlier in the morning, the PM witnessed a presentation of Engineer-in-Chief of Bangladesh Army Major General Md Siddiqur Rahman Sarker on the proposed integrated traffic management in the capital's Bijoy Sarani area.