Kurigram, July 16 -- What was supposed to be a blessing has turned into a source of frustration for hundreds of families living in remote char areas of Kurigram's Ulipur upazila.

A solar electrification initiative, meant to bring power to homes beyond the reach of the national grid, has instead left residents disillusioned, and still in the dark.

Back in 2021, a total of 375 families from Chark Ghughurmari and Sukherbati, located in ward-8 of Saheber Alga Union, were provided with solar panels under a project reportedly managed by local public representatives and Awami League leaders and activists.

Each family was asked to pay between Tk 500 and Tk 1,000 in instalments for the installation of the solar units. But, according to the resi...