The Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (EPRC) and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on Sunday agreed to conduct a survey on household electricity access, side-by-side with a view to assessing the work of the power distribution companies.
The survey will be conducted in two phases with 10 days for each. The first one will take place in June this year while the second will be conducted next January.
Addressing the contract signing ceremony at Biduyt Bhaban, Prime Minister`s Energy Advisor Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury hailed it as possibly the first move by a government to assess its own activities through a survey.
Power Secretary Monwar Islam said people have the right to get electricity while the government should know the public perception about supply of electricity.
Islam also said despite the improvements in power supply, many areas across the country still experience frequent interruptions in throwbacks to load-shedding.
He informed that the BBS will conduct the survey mainly to gain a better idea on the operations and services offered by the 6 power distribution entities under the BPCto get more information on their operations and consumer satisfaction or dissatisfaction over them.
He said Rural Electrification Board (REB) is now giving 300,000 – 550,000 lakh connections every month. Another programme is being undertaken to provide connections to 25 million people in next few years.
Statistics Division secretary KM Mozammel Haque also addressed the function.
Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (ERPC) chairman and additional secretary of Power Division Dr. Ahmed Kaikawas and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) director general Mohammad Abdul Wazed inked the deal on behalf of their respective organisations.
