Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to gradually install solar panels on key government buildings across the country to address the energy crisis and increase the use of renewable energy.
He also instructed the government to provide support for importing raw materials used in solar inverter production and to develop an effective economic model to make solar power affordable, accessible, and financially beneficial for ordinary citizens.
The prime minister issued the directives at a meeting on solar power held at the Prime Minister’s Office under the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat on Monday (August 3).
The meeting decided that solar panels would initially be installed at important government buildings, including Bangabhaban, the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Finance Ministry buildings at the Bangladesh Secretariat, and the Planning Commission building.
According to the prime minister’s decision, solar panel installations will be expanded to other key government facilities in phases. The government will also provide assistance for importing raw materials needed for domestic solar inverter production. In addition, the prime minister ordered the formulation of an effective financial model to make solar electricity more affordable, accessible, and profitable for the public.
At the meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that introducing solar power in government buildings would encourage greater public interest in adopting the technology. He said this was why he had instructed the installation of solar panels at various government facilities.
Representatives from PRAN-RFL Group and Walton Group made separate presentations at the meeting on installing solar panels in residential buildings and connecting generated electricity to the national grid. They said that implementing the initiative would not only reduce electricity and energy costs but also create new employment opportunities.
The meeting also highlighted the need to widely promote the economic and practical benefits of solar power to increase consumer interest. The presentations noted that the technology could be used to operate various electrical appliances, including air conditioners, fans, and lifts.
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, the prime minister’s adviser on finance and planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Ashik Chowdhury, Acting Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Ahsan Habib, PRAN-RFL Group Chairman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, the group’s Solar and Renewable Energy Department AGM Towhidul Ahad, Walton Group Managing Director S.M. Mahbubul Alam, and senior officials from various ministries attended the meeting.
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