Bangladesh plans major policy push for solar energy expansion
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood today said the government is working to quickly formulate a policy for the solar and renewable energy sector.
“If proper policy support is ensured, it will be possible to transform Bangladesh’s solar power sector,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while speaking at the inaugural session of the '15th International Bangladesh Infrastructure Innovation and Development Expo and Dialogue-2026' at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre here.
Mahmood said: “Bangladesh is ready to go solar; we only need policy. If we get the policy, we can revolutionise Bangladesh's solar sector.”
He said a few days ago, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman formed a committee.
Efforts are underway to finalise a policy within this month and it can be issued as a government order after the Cabinet Division’s approval in June, he said.
The minister said he believes that if the government provides policy support to this solar sector, it can bring a revolution in the country.
Citing the example of the garment sector, he said a major change was brought in the country's ready-made garment sector in 80’s after Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman provided policy support like bonded warehouses and back-to-back LC facility for the RMG sector.
He said the government is working on further relaxing regulations in the solar sector, creating opportunities for easy import of necessary equipment, including inverters, frames and panels, and providing tax benefits.
Mahmood said the government is now giving special importance to battery storage so that solar power generated during the day can be used during the evening peak hours.
He said the government is moving forward with the goal of generating 10,000 megawatts of solar power in the next five years.
Regarding rooftop solar, the minister said the issue of installing solar panels on the roof of houses and supplying electricity to the national grid and adjusting bills through net metering are being seriously considered.
Building owners will also get financial benefits from this, he said.
“If every house in Dhaka city can be brought under a solar power system through private enterprises, load-shedding in the city will be reduced significantly,” he said.
The inaugural ceremony was attended, among others, by Muzaffar Ahmed, Chairman of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA); M Azizur Rahman Ripon, Chairman of the Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB); and Rashedul Haque, Managing Director of ExpoNet.
