By Friendship News Desk,
24 September, 2026
For years, Mahidul Islam, a 41-year-old tailor
from Kabilpur Char, Gaibandha—a district in northern Bangladesh, relied on a
traditional paddle-driven sewing machine to earn a living. Without a reliable
source of electricity, his workday usually ended around 8:00 PM, limiting both
his productivity and income.
The arrival of the Friendship-Summit Solar
Village changed that reality. After being connected to the power, Mahidul
replaced his manual sewing machine with an electric one, allowing him to work
faster, reduce physical effort, and continue working long after sunset. Today,
he regularly works until 11:00 PM and often until midnight before the
Eid holidays to meet growing customer demand.
"Previously, I had to stop working early
because it got dark and because of the limitations of my manual machine. Now I can
comfortably continue working at night and complete many more orders," says
Mahidul.
The increased productivity has significantly
improved his livelihood. His monthly income has risen from approximately BDT
6,000 to BDT 15,000, an increase of nearly 150%. The additional income has
enabled him to better support his family, improve his house, purchase two cows,
and contribute to his eldest daughter's wedding. He is currently investing in
the education of his second daughter, a student of class 8, while also planning
for a more secure and prosperous future for his family.
Mahidul's success reflects a broader
transformation taking place across Kabilpur Char. Before electrification,
residents often had to go all the way to the mainland to purchase daily
necessities and access essential services. Today, 46 electrified businesses
operate within the char, including 18 shops equipped with refrigerators, four
computers and two printing service centres, enabling residents to access a wide
range of goods and services closer to home while strengthening the local
economy.
The solar-powered microgrid now provides
nearly 208 prepaid electricity connections, directly benefiting about 950
people and indirectly supporting more than 3,000 others. It powers homes,
businesses, refrigeration facilities, computer and printing services, two
schools, two madrasas, irrigation pumps, and agricultural machinery,
creating new opportunities for entrepreneurship, education, and agriculture.
As a result, Kabilpur Char has become
increasingly self-reliant. Community members who once depended on mainland
markets for many of their daily needs can now access essential goods and
services within their own locality, saving both time and transportation costs
while keeping more economic activity within the char.
Mahidul's electric sewing machine is just one
example of how reliable renewable energy is transforming life in Kabilpur Char.
Beyond powering businesses, the Friendship-Summit Solar Village is helping
build a more productive, educated, self-reliant, and prosperous community where
opportunity no longer ends at sunset.