Dhaka, Sept. 1 -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $175 million concessional loan to expand access to reliable and affordable electricity in Bangladesh's Chattogram Hill Tracts, helping boost livelihoods, improve essential services, and support inclusive development in one of the country's most remote regions.

The Sustainable Energy Development and Community Empowerment in the Chattogram Hill Tracts Project will extend and modernise power distribution networks across 26 remote upazilas in Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban hill districts, benefiting at least 88,000 additional households, including 35,000 from small ethnic communities, said a press release.

The project will construct six 33/11 kilovolt substations, addi...