Влияние электрификации Бангладеш на социально-экономическую дифференциацию регионов страны

Аннотация

Relevance of the research topic: Energy is the vital factor upon which human development relies. From various natural sources such as solar, oil, coal, and gas, we can derive energy in different forms. Among these forms, electricity stands out as the most continent due to its weightless nature, ease transmission and distribution, and efficient consumption facilities. These characteristics of electricity make it popular and integrated into the fabric of human lives. Recognizing the critical importance of electricity in human development, the United Nation (UN) adopting it as one of its 17 ustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for achieving global sustainable development. Bangladesh, a small country located in South Asia, is considered a developing nation. With a population of around 17 million people, Bangladesh strives to improve its citizens’ conditions by utilizing its limited resources and capabilities. Therefore, the importance of this research is vital for Bangladesh for several reasons. Firstly, social development cannot be overlooked by any country, as it is intrinsically linked to the overall well-being, stability and progress of society. Social development relies on various indicators such as education, gender equality, healthcare, urbanization, communication, human development, and others. Here, electricity access is linked with all of these social factors and positively influences them. In the context of Bangladesh, it is crucial for the government to achieve its Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041 goals. Secondly, the economy is another vital part of a country on which national development depends. In the ancient world, the economy was agriculture-based, dependent on the blessings of nature. At that time, the number of global populations was less and product demand minimal, mainly focused on fulfilling basic needs through agricultural products. However, with the current population exceeding 8 billion, people’s demands have evolved towards different modern and luxurious items, leading the global economy towards industrialization and commercialization to meet these massive human demands. Besides the fulfilling the growing product demand, industrialization and commercialization drive technological advancement, infrastructure development, providing employment opportunities to a large number of the population. All of these factors contribute to reducing the unemployment rate, poverty reduction and increasing economic growth. Therefore, Bangladesh is striving to shift from an agriculturally based economy to an industrial-based economy to achieve economic development. However, industrial, and commercial sectors heavily depend on energy sources, mainly electricity. Due to this reason, access to electricity is important for the economic growth of Bangladesh. Thirdly, the geopolitical landscape presents another challenge. Bangladesh is bordered by its largest neighbours, India, and Myanmar. Additionally, as a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Bangladesh is committed to fostering social, economic, and cultural development. To realize its development objectives, Bangladesh engages in trade with neighbouring countries to meet its needs. This has led Bangladesh to import electricity from India since 2013, amounting to around 1160 MW. Furthermore, besides India, Bangladesh is exploring investment opportunities in Nepal's hydropower plant projects, intending to import electricity to fulfil its burgeoning demand and achieve sustainable development in economic and social spheres.