Solar, not quick rentals, to address power crisis: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said the electricity crisis could be addressed through affordable solar power and other cost-effective measures rather than “looting” in the name of quick-rental power plants. He added that the government aimed to add 3,000 to 4,000 megawatts of solar power to the national grid before next summer.

“Instead of looting in the name of quick rentals, it is certainly possible to resolve the electricity problem through affordable means,” he said while inaugurating the two-day Bangladesh Solar Expo 2026 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital this morning (3 November).

The prime minister said, “The government is aware of public suffering over the country’s energy and electricity situation and has taken comprehensive measures to ensure long-term energy security.”

The government is simultaneously working to stabilise energy and power supplies, review expenditure and contracts in the power sector, intensify domestic gas exploration, diversify energy sources and accelerate solar power expansion, he said.

Tarique Rahman said the government had set a target of generating 20% of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 30% by 2040.

As part of efforts to expand solar power, the government had initially allocated Tk 1,500 crore to a fund to facilitate financing for the sector, he said, adding that further funds would be arranged gradually.

Describing renewable energy as no longer merely a promising sector but an unavoidable reality for Bangladesh, he said the government wanted to ensure that entrepreneurs and investors in the sector did not fall behind due to a lack of financing.

The prime minister said the government aimed to add 3,000 to 4,000 megawatts of solar power to the national grid before the beginning of the next summer season, provided everything progressed as planned.

To facilitate solar power installation and expansion, the government had already formulated the ‘Special Solar Power Installation Ordinance 2026’ and introduced policy support, tax and tariff benefits, and financial incentives to encourage investment, he added.

He said the government would purchase surplus electricity supplied to the national grid under the net metering system at Tk 10.50 per unit, including incentives, from February 2027.

The prime minister expressed hope that unused rooftops of government and private offices, educational institutions, hospitals, industries, commercial establishments and residential buildings would be brought under solar power generation.

He said the government had been taking steps to gradually convert electricity-powered irrigation pumps into solar-powered ones to reduce farmers’ production costs, protect the environment and save electricity from the national grid.

Tarique Rahman said the country had become heavily dependent on imported energy, leaving it vulnerable to disruptions in global supply chains caused by international conflicts.

To keep the country’s energy and electricity situation as normal as possible, the government had provided Tk 43,000 crore in subsidies to the power sector in the 2025-26 fiscal year, he said.

He added that the government had increased diesel reserves, taken initiatives to ensure coal supplies and stocks for coal-fired power plants, maintained contact with alternative suppliers and allocated Tk 600 crore to procure fuel oil for power generation.

The prime minister said ensuring adequate electricity to meet public demand was the government’s responsibility, while its efficient and economical use was the responsibility of citizens.

After inaugurating the expo, themed “Utilise Every Inch of Rooftop, Increase Income from Solar Power”, the prime minister visited various stalls at the exhibition.

Jointly organised for the first time by the Power Division, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), the exhibition showcases modern solar power technologies, bringing together policymakers, government agencies, development partners, financial institutions, technology providers and entrepreneurs.