93.5% people now have access to electricity | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Monday
July 07, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
MONDAY, JULY 07, 2025
93.5% people now have access to electricity

Bangladesh

TBS Report
30 June, 2020, 09:30 pm
Last modified: 30 June, 2020, 10:53 pm

Related News

  • Solar panels to be installed in government buildings, educational institutions, hospitals within six months
  • Why do the World Bank and ADB want rural electricity to become a business?
  • India's $80 billion coal-power boom is running short of water
  • Govt's 5,238MW grid-tied solar push faces tepid response from investors
  • Govt plans ‘some load-shedding’ to ease subsidy pressure

93.5% people now have access to electricity

The number of electricity users was 77.9 percent in 2015, meaning it has increased by 15.6 percentage points over the last four years

TBS Report
30 June, 2020, 09:30 pm
Last modified: 30 June, 2020, 10:53 pm
93.5% people now have access to electricity

Electricity reached about 93.5 percent people in Bangladesh in 2019 as a source of lighting up their households, compared to 90.1 percent in 2018, according to a report of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

In 2015, the number of electricity users was 77.9 percent, and it has increased by 15.6 percentage points over the last four years.

The report titled "Monitoring the Situation of Vital Statistics of Bangladesh (MSVSB)" was unveiled at a seminar at the BBS auditorium in the capital on Monday.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

While presenting the report, AKM Ashraful Haq, project director of the MSVSB, said that around 3.3 percent of people in the country are using solar power, while 2.9 percent are using kerosene lamps.

The rates of literacy, access to healthy sanitary latrine and safe drinking water have increased in recent years. Moreover, crude mortality, infant mortality and under-five mortality rates have also dropped – all those contributed to a rise in people's life expectancy.

The average life expectancy of Bangladeshi people has increased to 72.6 years in 2019, compared to 72.3 years in 2018.

The life expectancy of men in the country stands at 71.1 years, while that of women is 74.2 years.

In 2018, the life expectancy of men was 70.8 years and that of women was 73.8 years.

The report also said life expectancy was 67.2 years in 2009, which increased to 70.7 years in 2014. The expected life increased by 5.4 years in the last decade while it increased by 1.9 years in the last five years.

Planning Minister MA Mannan was connected to the event virtually.

The minister said proper information is essential to ensure sustained development.

Urging the BBS officials to collect quality data from the field, Mannan said the quality of development will increase with the accuracy of the information.

Mohammad Yamin Chowdhury, secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division, said the report has been prepared to assess the progress of Bangladesh in socioeconomic indicators compared to other countries.

"Sri Lanka is the only country in the subcontinent which is a little bit ahead of Bangladesh in some indicators while India, Pakistan, Nepal and other countries remain behind us," the secretary said assessing the report.

Improvement in health and sanitation

The crude death rate dropped below 5 in every 1,000 people for the first time in 2019. The rate stood at 4.9, down from 5 in 2018. The BBS data said the rate was 12.2 in 1982 and dropped to 6 in 2008.

Infant mortality rate reduced to 21 in every 1,000 people in 2019, which was 29 in 2015. Under-five mortality among 1,000 live births also declined to 28 in 2019 from 36 in 2015.

The report also found that 98.1 percent of people in the country have access to drinking water from taps or tube wells.

Around 81.5 percent of people have access to sanitary latrine and the rate was 78.1 percent in 2018. Access to sanitary latrine was 73.5 percent in 2015 and the rate increased by 8 percentage points in the four years.

Currently, about 17 percent of people are using other types of toilet and 1.5 percent of people have no toilet facilities.

Disparities in literacy rates

The BBS report has disclosed differences in literacy rates based on gender and regions.

Adult literacy rate in urban areas is 82.2 percent while it is 68.4 percent in rural areas – a difference of 13.8 percentage points.

The rate is about 77.4 percent for male and 71.9 percent for female, meaning a gender gap of 5.5 percentage points.

The total adult literacy rate stood at 74.4 percent in 2019, which is significantly higher than 63.9 percent in 2015.

Rate of electrification falls

Only 3.4 percentage points of additional people have come under electrification in 2019, which was 4.8 and 4.1 percentage points in the previous two years.

The rate of electrification has dropped as the number of people out of electricity coverage is reducing.

Analysing the BBS data, it has been found that about 54.6 percent of people were under electricity coverage in 2010, which increased to 67.8 percent in 2014. The rate of electrification increased drastically in 2015 and stood at 77.9 percent.

The government has a plan to provide access to electricity to each family of the country by 2020.

About 3.3 percent of people are using solar power and the rate has dropped from 4.8 percent in 2018.

Some 2.9 percent of people are using kerosene lamps and the rate has dropped by 13.4 percentage points from 16.3 percent in 2015.

Top News

people / access / Electricity

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Illustration: TBS
    Inflation drops below 9% after 27 months
  • Representational image. Photo: Investopedia
    GDP grows 4.86% in Q3 FY25 
  • BTMA logo
    2% advance income tax on cotton imports expected to be withdrawn within 24 hours: BTMA president

MOST VIEWED

  • Ships and shipping containers are pictured at the port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California, US, 30 January 2019. Photo: REUTERS
    Bangladesh may offer zero-duty on US goods to get reciprocal tariff relief
  • A quieter scene at Dhaka University’s central library on 29 June, with seats still unfilled—unlike earlier this year, when the space was overwhelmed by crowds of job aspirants preparing for competitive exams. Photo: Tahmidul Alam Jaeef
    No more long queues at DU Central Library. What changed?
  • Labour unrests disrupt CEPZ operations as financial crisis hits factories
    Labour unrests disrupt CEPZ operations as financial crisis hits factories
  • Infographic: TBS
    Japanese loan rate hits record 2%, still remains cheaper than others
  • Students during a protest procession seeking end of discrimination in engineering jobs in Chattogram on 5 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Ctg students protest against discrimination in engineering profession
  • Benapole port: Revenue exceeds target by Tk316cr while imports decline
    Benapole port: Revenue exceeds target by Tk316cr while imports decline

Related News

  • Solar panels to be installed in government buildings, educational institutions, hospitals within six months
  • Why do the World Bank and ADB want rural electricity to become a business?
  • India's $80 billion coal-power boom is running short of water
  • Govt's 5,238MW grid-tied solar push faces tepid response from investors
  • Govt plans ‘some load-shedding’ to ease subsidy pressure

Features

The Mitsubishi Xpander is built with families in mind, ready to handle the daily carpool, grocery runs, weekend getaways, and everything in between. PHOTO: Akif Hamid

Now made-in-Bangladesh: 2025 Mitsubishi Xpander

18h | Wheels
Students of different institutions protest demanding the reinstatement of the 2018 circular cancelling quotas in recruitment in government jobs. Photo: Mehedi Hasan

5 July 2024: Students announce class boycott amid growing protests

2d | Panorama
Contrary to long-held assumptions, Gen Z isn’t politically clueless — they understand both local and global politics well. Photo: TBS

A misreading of Gen Z’s ‘political disconnect’ set the stage for Hasina’s ouster

2d | Panorama
Graphics: TBS

How courier failures are undermining Bangladesh’s online perishables trade

2d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

New telecom policy will prevent corruption: Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb

New telecom policy will prevent corruption: Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb

21m | TBS Today
What could be the election outcome? SANEM's survey released

What could be the election outcome? SANEM's survey released

46m | TBS News Updates
Low-skilled Saudi jobs getting tougher for Bangladeshis amid mandatory certification

Low-skilled Saudi jobs getting tougher for Bangladeshis amid mandatory certification

1h | TBS Insight
What Donald Trump said about Elon Musk's political party announcement

What Donald Trump said about Elon Musk's political party announcement

1h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net