History of Electricity in Bangladesh

Bangladesh: Developing every day every moment

History of First Electricity Uses in Dhaka even Bangladesh:

Bangladesh borne in 1971, but electricity utilization started in this region as a part of India before creation Bangladesh. First electricity switched on 7 December 1901 in Ahsan Monjeel, the residence of the Nawab of Dhaka. Latter on Dhanmondi powerhouse was set up and the journey of commercial distribution started in 1930.

Brief History of Electricity In Bangladesh:

Up to the partition of the country and independence of India and Pakistan in 1947, electricity generation and distribution was authorized by some private companies in this region. Electricity facility was limited within 17 provincial district urban area and of course only for nighttime. Total power generation capacity was then only 21 MW for East Pakistan; the most privileged Dhaka city used two 1500kW generators to supply electricity.

To improve the power supply situation, the government of Pakistan created Electricity Directorate in 1948 and issued an ordinance in 1959 to form WAPDA (Water And Power Development Authority) to take over all electrical systems from the private sector to the Government sector. As a result, this organization got more autonomy and basic infrastructure developed during this time. From 1960 to 1970 power generation increased from 88MW to 475MW, Dhaka-Chittagong 132kV transmission line network, shiddirgonj, Khulna, Chittagong power plant and Kaptai dam started.

After independence of Bangladesh in 1972, the government realized to boost up the power sector and create BPDB (Bangladesh Power Development Board). The achievement the highlight of BPDB considering time period from 1972 to 1995 is: power generation capacity 2818 MW; high voltage transmission line network 132 kV 2469 km & 230 kV 419 km; highest voltage 230kV capacity transmission line of the country East-west (Tongi-Ishurdi) interconnector is switched on in December 1982. BPDB created an electricity facility in most of the district city area, but the government had to make sense that for developing the whole country electricity need in a rural area, especially for irrigation. 

So, the government created REB (Rural Electrification Board) in October 1977 who works for electrification in a rural area all over the country through PBS (Palli Bidyut Samity) except major district towns.

To segregate electric supply within Dhaka city from the jurisdiction of BPDB, DESA (Dhaka Electric Supply Authority) was created in 1992, but in latter DESA abolished and formed two company DESCO (Dhaka Electric Supply Company) and DPDC (Dhaka Power Distribution Company). 

Not only for Dhaka but also to improve consumer services and reduce losses for all over the country government rearranged and created different companies and organizations in the power sector many times. The major company and organization under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resource in Bangladesh is as below:

List of Electricity Utility Organizations in Bangladesh:

BERC (Bangladesh Power Regulatory Commission)

BPDB (Bangladesh Power Development Board)

APSCL ( Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited)

EGCB (Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh)

NWPGCL (North-West Power Generation Company Limited)

IPP (Independent Power Producer)

RPCL (Rural Power Company Limited)

PGCB (Power Grid Company of Bangladesh)

DPDC (Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd)

DESCO (Dhaka Power Supply Company Ltd)

WZPDCL (West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd)

SZPDCL (South Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd)

BREB (Rural Electrification Board)

PBS ( Palli Bidyut Samity)