State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, MP, on Tuesday said Solar panels will be installed on the rooftops of all government office buildings under the Local Government Division and the Rural Development and Co-operatives Division in phases.
The initiative aims to generate solar power, reduce electricity costs of government institutions, increase the use of renewable energy and promote environment-friendly energy management, he said.
The state minister made the remarks on Tuesday at separate meetings of the Local Government Division and the Rural Development and Co-operatives Division.
He said solar power use would gradually be expanded from central-level offices to government institutions at district, upazila, municipality and union levels.
Increasing the use of renewable energy in government institutions would help establish an economical, modern and environment-friendly government service infrastructure, he said.
Shahe Alam said the government was considering installing solar panels using net metering and hybrid systems. The approach would allow surplus electricity generated from solar power to be supplied to the national grid and enable the use of solar energy after evening when required.
The government is also considering providing necessary financial support to implement the initiative, he added.
The state minister said private sector expertise and experience would be utilised to expand solar power use in government institutions. He said initiatives would be taken to receive technical assistance and sign memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with companies such as Walton, PRAN-RFL and Grameen Shakti.
He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was giving special importance to increasing renewable energy use, reducing government expenditure and ensuring environment-friendly development, while regularly monitoring progress of the initiative.
Shahe Alam urged all concerned to work in a coordinated manner to expand solar power use in government institutions in line with the prime minister’s directives and priorities.
Following a decision taken at a meeting on 17 August 2026, two separate committees were formed under the leadership of additional secretaries of the Local Government Division and the Rural Development and Co-operatives Division.
The committees have identified rooftops of government buildings under the respective divisions where solar panels can be installed. They have also reviewed the total rooftop area, estimated costs and challenges in implementing the initiative.
The meeting was informed that the Cabinet Division issued a directive on 10 August to implement the decision to increase solar power use in government offices.
As part of the move, an initiative has been taken to expand solar power use in institutions under the Local Government Division and the Rural Development and Co-operatives Division.
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 meetings.
Representatives from Walton, PRAN-RFL and Grameen Shakti also participated.
