The government plans to turn Bangladesh’s electricity consumers into solar energy producers under a major new strategic reform framework, Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir announced on Saturday.
Alongside expanding renewable energy, the state is targeting the creation of over 10 million jobs, upgrading upazila-level hospitals to 150 beds, and integrating Zakat into the universal social security scheme.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Planning Ministry’s NEC Auditorium on Saturday, Titumir detailed the 180-day programme implementation progress of various state foundations, the government’s election manifesto, and the “5-Year Strategic Framework for Reform and Development.”
He announced that the government will co-ordinate the activities of its foundations on a cluster basis, starting with 22 entities sharing similar mandates.
Transitioning consumers into energy producers
Detailing the solar power strategy, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir stated that the government aims to transition the majority of the population from mere electricity consumers into active energy producers.
This shift towards renewable energy is intended to secure an ecological, environmental, and liveable future.
The government has set an ambitious target to generate 5 gigawatts (GW) of electricity from solar power over the next five years. Participating foundations have already decided on plans for 2 GW, with the potential for further increases.
To finance this transition, the government plans to utilise Tk2,000 crore allocated in the budget, channeling the funds through IDCOL and BIFL.
Under this framework, the consumer/producer will contribute 20 per cent of the cost, aggregator organisations will provide 20 per cent, and the remaining 60 per cent will be extended as a government loan.
This transition to solar energy is expected to reduce the national electricity subsidy by at least Tk3,000 crore, allowing those funds to be redirected to other critical sectors while creating substantial employment in the solar industry.
Massive job creation target
Addressing the country’s biggest challenge of “jobless growth,” Titumir revealed that several state-affiliated institutions have committed to generating 10 million (1 crore) jobs over the next five years.
Participating entities include the Women’s Organisation, the Small Farmers Foundation, and the Palli Daridro Bimochon Foundation (Rural and Poverty Alleviation Foundation). Data presented by these foundations indicates the total number of new jobs could ultimately exceed 10 million.
The “One Village, One Product” programme will serve as a top priority framework for these foundations to drive local employment across the country.
To ensure accountability, the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) will monitor and evaluate the job creation promises. Progress will be continuously reported and made transparently available to the public via a digital dashboard.
Healthcare reforms, Universal Social Security
In healthcare, major structural changes are underway, starting with upgrading upazila-level hospitals to 150 beds. Large budget allocations have been directed to initiate these vital improvements in a sector that was historically neglected.
To support this expansion, foundations will help build the necessary human resources by training nurses, providing specialised training for new doctors, and coordinating the supply of technicians and personnel for key facilities, such as coronary care units and kidney dialysis centres.
The adviser also announced plans to explore the integration of Zakat as an alternative funding source for the universal lifecycle-based social security programme. Concurrently, efforts are underway to register every person with disabilities as a beneficiary and enhance the services they receive.
