90pc rural people to get electricity supply by 2018:: State minister

Ninety per cent rural people will get electricity supply in the next three years, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasirul Hamid said in the city on Wednesday, reports BSS.  
The government has undertaken different steps for expansion of rural electricity supply in the rural areas, he told journalists after Deputy Commissioners' Conference -2015 at Cabinet Division in the city.  
The state minister discussed the rural electrification plans and other issues with the Deputy Commissioners (DCs).
 Mr Hamid said the government is implementing various projects to supply electricity and the Rural Electrification Board (REB) will be able to provide power around 90 per cent of the country.
Referring to DC's demand for uninterrupted power supply, he said, "We are working for more electricity generation and expect to supply uninterrupted power to the existing 80 per cent areas within the next three years." The state minister said the electricity generation capacity reached to 13,265 MW including the captive generation.
According to a ministry official, the government has given top priority to the sector for strengthening and boosting the country's national economy and thus generating employment opportunities.
The ministry official, however, said the government augmented generation of power, expanded transmission, distribution lines and improved capacity of other sectors aimed at achieving the desired economic growth to become a middle income country by 2021.