Standard Chartered Bangladesh, in collaboration with the international social-purpose organization Friendship, has launched an environmental initiative to provide clean energy, water, and climate resilience to the remote Notunchar Island in Kurigram. Notunchar, a sedimentary island located at the Northeastern point of Chilmari Upazila, remains disconnected from the national grid and basic infrastructure, including electricity, gas, and clean water, according to a press release issued by Standard Chartered Bangladesh recently.
Through this initiative, the island will be connected to a 70-kilowatt solar micro-grid, supported by a water treatment facility and a large-scale afforestation drive.
The solar plant, with an estimated energy output of 263 kilowatt-hours per day, will provide reliable power to 175 households, and multiple shops, schools, and religious institutions covering 875 beneficiaries.
Also, a water treatment plant – capable of supplying 60 liters of clean water per hour – will serve both the community’s drinking water needs and the solar grid’s maintenance requirements.