‘Solar panels to be installed on rooftops at all local govt offices’

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, MP on Tuesday said an initiative is being taken to generate solar power by installing solar panels in phases on the rooftops of all government office buildings under the Local Government Division and the Rural Development and Co-operatives Division. “The installment will help reduce electricity costs of government institutions, increase the use of renewable energy and ensure environment-friendly energy management,” he said.

The state minister made the remarks at two separate meetings held at the meeting room of the Local Government and Rural Development and Co-operatives divisions, reports BSS.

He said the use of solar power would be gradually expanded beyond the central level to government offices at the district, upazila, and municipality and union levels.

He also said it would be possible to set an example of an economical, modern and environment-friendly government service infrastructure by increasing the use of renewable energy in government institutions.

Mentioning that the use of net metering and hybrid systems is being considered for installing solar panels, Mir Shahe Alam said this will create an opportunity to supply surplus electricity generated to the national grid and make it possible to use solar power even after evening as needed.
The government is also considering providing necessary financial assistance to implement the initiative, he added.
The technical expertise and experience of the private sector would also be utilised to expand the use of solar power in government institutions, he said, adding that to this end, initiatives will be taken to receive necessary technical assistance and sign memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in coordination with companies such as Walton, PRAN-RFL and Grameen Shakti.
The state minister said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is attaching special importance to increasing the use of renewable energy, reducing government expenditure and ensuring environment-friendly development, and is regularly monitoring the progress of the initiative.
He urged all concerned to work in a coordinated manner to expand the use of solar power in government institutions in line with the prime minister’s directives and priorities.
Following the decision of a meeting held on August 17, 2026, two separate committees were formed under the leadership of two additional secretaries of the Local Government Division and the Rural Development and Co-operatives Division.
The committees have identified the rooftops of government buildings under the respective divisions where solar panels can be installed.
They have also reviewed the total area of the identified rooftops, potential costs and existing challenges in implementing the initiative.
The meeting was informed that the Cabinet Division issued a directive on August 10 to implement the decision to increase the use of solar power in government offices.
In continuation of this, an initiative has been taken to expand the use of solar power in institutions under the Local Government and Rural Development and Co-operatives divisions.
Local Government Division Secretary Md. Shahidul Hassan, Rural Development and Co-operatives Division Secretary Dr. Rafiqul I Mohamed, heads of departments and agencies under the divisions and senior officials of the ministry attended the meeting.
Representatives of Walton, PRAN-RFL and Grameen Shakti also participated in the meeting.