PM issues three directives to tackle energy crisis, boost solar power

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday issued three key directives to help ease the country's energy crisis by accelerating the use of solar power, including installing rooftop solar panels on major government buildings, promoting local solar inverter manufacturing and making solar energy more affordable for consumers.

The directives came at a meeting on solar power chaired by the Prime Minister at his office in the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat, said Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

Under the directives, rooftop solar panels will be installed in phases on major government buildings across the country, beginning with Bangabhaban, the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon, the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the Finance Ministry buildings at the Bangladesh Secretariat, the Planning Commission building and other key government establishments.

The Prime Minister also instructed the authorities concerned to facilitate the import of raw materials required for manufacturing solar inverters to encourage domestic production.

He further directed officials to develop a viable financial model to make solar power affordable, accessible and economically attractive for households.

Tarique Rahman said the introduction of solar power in government buildings would encourage wider public adoption of the technology and help expand Bangladesh's renewable energy sector.

During the meeting, PRAN-RFL Group and Walton Group gave separate presentations on rooftop solar systems for residential buildings and the integration of surplus electricity into the national grid.

The presentations said wider use of rooftop solar could reduce dependence on conventional power sources, improve energy efficiency and create new employment opportunities.

The meeting also emphasised raising public awareness about the economic and practical benefits of solar energy, noting that it can power air conditioners, fans, lifts and other electrical appliances.

Among those present were Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister's Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, National Board of Revenue (NBR) Acting Chairman Ahsan Habib, PRAN-RFL Group Chairman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, the group's AGM for Solar and Renewable Energy Towhidul Ahad, Walton Group Managing Director SM Mahbubul Alam, and senior secretaries and officials from various ministries.