Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday said the government expects to add 3,000 to 4,000 megawatts of solar power to the national grid before the next summer, as it pursues a plan to reduce dependence on imported energy and ensure a reliable electricity supply.
“If everything progresses according to plan, the government will be able to add 3,000 to 4,000 megawatts of solar power to the national grid before the summer season begins,” he said.
Tarique made the remarks while inaugurating the first-ever Bangladesh Solar Expo 2026 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital.
The Prime Minister said the government had set a target of generating 20 percent of the country's electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 30 percent by 2040.
He said the government allocated Tk 1,500 crore initially to facilitate financing for solar power expansion, adding that further funds would be arranged in phases to ensure that entrepreneurs and investors in the renewable energy sector were not held back by a lack of finance.
Tarique said the government also introduced the Special Solar Power Installation Ordinance 2026 and taken various policy, tax and duty measures to encourage investment in the sector.
Under a special net-metering arrangement, the government will purchase surplus electricity supplied to the national grid from rooftop solar systems at Tk 10.50 per unit, including incentives, by February 2027, he said.
The Prime Minister called on public and private offices, educational institutions, hospitals, industries, commercial establishments and households to use their unused rooftops for solar power generation.
He said he had also installed solar panels at his residence and was already able to supply some surplus electricity to the national grid after meeting household needs.
Tarique said the solar expo demonstrated that the country's electricity needs could be addressed through affordable solutions rather than what he described as looting in the name of quick rental power plants.
“Renewable energy in Bangladesh is no longer merely a promising sector; it has become an inevitable reality,” he said.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh had been turned into a country heavily dependent on energy imports, leaving it vulnerable to disruptions in global supply chains caused by international conflicts.
He said the government provided Tk 43,000 crore in subsidies to the power sector in the 2025-26 fiscal year to keep the country's energy and electricity situation as normal as possible.
Tarique said the government had increased diesel reserves, taken steps to ensure coal supplies and stocks for coal-fired power plants, maintained communication with alternative suppliers and allocated Tk 600 crore for procuring fuel oil to generate electricity.
Instead of spending time debating the failures or roles of previous governments in the power sector, the current government's priority was to meet future electricity demand and ensure uninterrupted supply to households and businesses, he said.
Referring Sfuron, a national sustainable energy idea contest, the Prime Minister said the government wanted to make sure that innovative ideas from young people did not disappear because of a lack of funding.
Tarique said Tk 500 crore had been allocated annually in the current budget for startups.
He congratulated the young participants who presented innovative ideas at the competition, saying more than 300 talented young people had taken part in it.
“Your one innovative idea could become a game changer for Bangladesh,” Tarique said, calling for continued competitions in knowledge and innovation.
The Prime Minister said more than 8,000 new service-provider companies were involved in the solar power sector and urged them to ensure proper installation, regular maintenance and quality services for customers.
He also asked power distribution companies and relevant agencies to maintain regular communication with entrepreneurs and remain responsive to their problems and potential.
Tarique said the government is aware of the hardships people, particularly those in marginalised communities, are facing due to the country's energy and power situation.
“To address the challenges, it is working simultaneously to stabilise fuel and electricity supplies, review power-sector expenditure and contracts, increase domestic gas exploration, diversify energy sources and accelerate solar power expansion. The government is taking comprehensive measures to ensure long-term energy security and a reliable electricity supply,” he said.
Highlighting the potential of solar power in agriculture, Tarique said the government was gradually moving to convert electricity-powered irrigation pumps into solar-powered ones.
The move would reduce farmers' production costs, protect the environment and save electricity from the national grid, he said.
The Prime Minister said solar energy could also create new opportunities for cold storage facilities, agricultural product preservation and small rural enterprises.
He called for joint efforts by the government and private sector to expand solar power, saying reducing electricity costs for consumers was as important as increasing generation.
Tarique also urged people to use electricity responsibly by making the most of natural daylight and switching off unnecessary lights, fans and electronic devices at homes, offices and businesses.
Calling on development partners to extend financial and technical support beyond large-scale projects, he said local small entrepreneurs and businesses also needed assistance to install solar systems.
He said expatriate Bangladeshis also had opportunities to invest in the solar power sector.
Tarique said he wanted the two-day expo to go beyond being a mere exhibition and help create new entrepreneurs, generate investment opportunities, connect banks with entrepreneurs and provide training and employment for young people.
He also called for practical initiatives to expand solar power in every district and upazila.
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku presided over the inaugural programme, held under the theme “Make Every Inch of Rooftop Useful, Increase Income through Solar Power”.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Finance Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Majumder and Power Division Secretary Mirana Mahrukh, among others, were present.
The expo, jointly organised by the Power Division, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), showcases modern solar technologies, including panels, inverters, smart-grid systems and advanced battery storage.
Four seminars will be held during the expo under the theme “Policy, People and Capital for Bangladesh’s Solar Revolution”, focusing on solar power expansion, rooftop installations, energy security, job creation and private investment. -UNB
