560 Families Lived Without Electricity in Remote Rangamati for 55 Years
Hundreds of households in a remote hilly area of Rangamati's Kaptai upazila have lived without electricity since independence. Residents continue to rely on kerosene lamps, candles, and solar panels for light as they await official intervention.
For fifty-five years since independence, hundreds of families residing in the remote hilly areas of the 4th Kaptai Union in Rangamati's Kaptai upazila have continued to live without any electricity supply. The affected region includes several villages such as Gola Barudchhara, Bhaizaytali, and Harinchhara, where approximately 560 families make their homes under continuous darkness.
Due to the absence of a reliable power grid, local residents are forced to rely entirely on traditional methods and limited alternatives for illumination. For daily lighting needs, community members depend heavily on kerosene lamps, known locally as kupi, candles, and intermittent solar panels.
The prolonged absence of grid connectivity has taken a heavy toll on the local population, who have struggled for years to draw attention to their plight. Vhanumati Chakma, a local resident, described the ongoing difficulties faced by the community regarding the lack of infrastructure. Vhanumati Chakma stated, "For three years, moving from door to door of various relevant authorities and responsible persons has not yielded any permanent solution. 560 families are spending their days in darkness even after so many years of independence."
Addressing the broader developmental challenges in the area, Engineer Abdul Latif emphasized the critical need for basic utilities to support the isolated population. Engineer Abdul Latif noted, "Electricity is essential to ensure education, health, and safe drinking water for the people of this remote region. If it is not possible to provide electricity transmission lines in the shortest possible time, then providing solar systems to every family through government funding would significantly reduce the suffering of these people."
Official records from the power sector indicate that infrastructure expansion in the region has faced a prolonged standstill. According to information provided by Rangamati Power Division Executive Engineer Swagat Sarkar, no new transmission lines have been installed in Rangamati since the year 2022.
Providing further context on future prospects for grid expansion, Swagat Sarkar explained the bureaucratic procedures required for new connections. Swagat Sarkar stated, "Another new project is in ECNEC. Once it is approved, the installation of new lines will start again. Then, consumers will get new lines upon application."
