Drishtipat Blog

By Priscilla Raj

[Editorial note: Priscilla set off to find the real impact of price rise in the most poverty stricken region of Bangladesh — the extreme Southern part of the country in the remotest of chars. This series, the partial cost for which is being borne by this blog, is a reflection on that trip. Hope you will find this series, the third of which is being published today, to be interesting and fascinating as this is a part of the country whose voice is often unheard in our conversations

After Part 1 and Part 2, here is the part 3. In the midst of the recent debate concerning, the Washington Post's rice crisis in Bangladesh, these reports from the grassroots, gives a telling and contrasting picture and tells the story of strength of our people.
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Sun that lights the Nights

Dhalchar Bazaar is ten minutes walk from the boat anchorage of the island. The crowd of skyward antennas attracts the eyes first. These are mostly to strengthen the wave of the mobile phones that is very feeble in this southernmost island. White glows of the tube lights spread weakly in front of the shops. The source of the light was not visible though. They were the solar power units installed on the roofs.

Government electricity department has yet to reach Dhalchar. Solar panels as electricity production unit were introduced in 1999 by Coastal Association for Social Transformation (COAST), one of the very few NGOs working in this island. Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Manager of Dhalchar unit of the organization informed that 44 solar panels have been sold so far. Recently Grameen Shakti, a sister organization Grameen conglomerate has started its selling.

COAST sells solar units with three different capacities:

i. 40 watt - Lights three eight-watt lights, a plug-point for 14″ black and white TV and two other plug-points to charge mobile phones. Price 29,280 taka inclusive of service charges.
ii. 50 watt - Lights four eight-watt lights, a plug-point for running 17″ black and white TV and two other plug-points to charge mobile phones. Price 36,950 taka inclusive of service charges.
iii. 75 watt - Lights six eight-watt lights, a plug-point for running 20″ black and white TV and three other plug-points to charge mobile phones. Price 52,000 taka inclusive of service charges.

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