Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has unveiled a three-pronged strategy to accelerate solar power adoption, ordering the installation of solar panels on major government buildings, support for local solar inverter manufacturing and the development of a business model to make solar electricity more affordable and commercially viable.
The directives, issued at a meeting on solar power at the Cabinet Division on Monday, are part of the government’s broader effort to ease the country’s energy shortage by expanding renewable energy use.
Under the first phase of the programme, solar panels will be installed at Bangabhaban, the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the finance ministry building at the Bangladesh Secretariat, the Planning Commission and other key government facilities.
Tarique said adopting solar power across government buildings would demonstrate the technology’s practicality and encourage wider use by households and businesses.
He also directed authorities to facilitate imports of raw materials used in manufacturing solar inverters to strengthen domestic production and support the growing renewable energy sector.
The prime minister further instructed officials to develop an economic model that would make solar electricity affordable, accessible and financially attractive for consumers.
At the meeting, PRAN-RFL Group and Walton Group presented separate proposals on installing rooftop solar systems on residential buildings and integrating surplus electricity into the national grid.
The companies said wider deployment of rooftop solar could reduce fuel consumption and electricity demand while creating new employment opportunities.
The presentations also highlighted the need to raise public awareness of the economic and practical benefits of solar power, noting that rooftop systems are capable of running air conditioners, fans, lifts and other electrical appliances.
The meeting was attended by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, National Board of Revenue Acting Chairman Ahsan Habib, PRAN-RFL Group Chairman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Walton Group Managing Director SM Mahbubul Alam and senior officials from relevant ministries.
