Solar push to ease power strain
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday directed the government to accelerate the adoption of solar energy through a three-pronged strategy aimed at easing pressure on the country’s power sector, boosting domestic manufacturing and making renewable energy more affordable for consumers.
The directives came at a meeting on solar power held at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat, according to Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.
Under the plan, the government will install rooftop solar panels in phases on key government buildings across the country, extend policy support for local production of solar inverters by facilitating the import of raw materials, and formulate a commercially viable financing model to make solar power affordable, accessible and financially attractive for households.
The first phase of the programme will cover Bangabhaban, the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the Finance Ministry buildings at the Bangladesh Secretariat, the Planning Commission building and other major government establishments.
Tarique Rahman said the installation of solar systems on government buildings would demonstrate the viability of renewable energy, encourage wider public adoption and help expand Bangladesh’s renewable energy sector.
During the meeting, PRAN-RFL Group and Walton Group delivered separate presentations outlining proposals for rooftop solar installations on residential buildings and the integration of surplus electricity into the national grid.
The presentations suggested that expanding rooftop solar generation could reduce reliance on conventional electricity, improve energy efficiency and create new employment opportunities in the renewable energy sector.
The meeting also underscored the need for greater public awareness of the economic and practical benefits of solar power, noting that solar energy can be used to operate air conditioners, fans, lifts and other electrical appliances.
Among those attending the meeting were Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, National Board of Revenue (NBR) Acting Chairman Ahsan Habib, PRAN-RFL Group Chairman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, the group’s AGM for Solar and Renewable Energy Towhidul Ahad, Walton Group Managing Director SM Mahbubul Alam, along with secretaries and senior officials from various ministries.
