Staff Reporter :
Boosting rooftop solar power could reduce Bangladesh’s reliance on grid electricity, according to Dr. Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser to the interim government for the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
Speaking at a workshop on rooftop solar systems for industries, the Adviser encouraged businesses to install solar power systems to meet their own energy needs, reducing their dependency on the national grid.
“Utilising solar power in this way will not only lessen dependence on grid electricity but also support the government’s commitment to renewable energy,” said Dr. Khan at the workshop organised by Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) at a city hotel.
He described the adoption of rooftop solar technology in the industrial sector as a significant step toward energy independence and sustainability for Bangladesh.
The event aimed to promote rooftop solar technology among members of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
IDCOL officials highlighted that generating electricity from solar rooftops is much cheaper than relying on grid power, making it a financially sensible option while helping the country achieve its renewable energy targets.
The workshop also featured speeches from Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the ERD and Chairman of IDCOL; Abdoulaye Seck, Country Director of the World Bank; and Stephanie Rieger, Head of the Energy Division for South Asia at KfW.
Alamgir Morshed, Executive Director and CEO of IDCOL, stated that the organisation provides low-cost financing, technical support, quality equipment, and capacity-building to promote renewable energy projects.
He also pointed out that Bangladesh has the potential to generate more than 4,000-5,000 MW of electricity from rooftop solar alone. IDCOL has set a target to finance 300 MW of rooftop solar projects by 2026.