CA directs solar panel installation on govt building rooftops

Chief Adviser (CA) Dr Muhammad Yunus has directed immediate action to install solar power systems on the rooftops of all government institutions across the country, including schools, colleges, madrasas, and hospitals, as part of a national push toward renewable energy.

The directive came during a high-level meeting titled ‘National Rooftop Solar Programme’ held at the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday (June 26).

The initiative aims to accelerate solar power adoption in Bangladesh, where renewable energy lags significantly behind neighboring countries.

According to a 2024 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), solar power currently meets only 5.6% of Bangladesh’s electricity demand—far behind India (24%), Pakistan (17.16%), and Sri Lanka (39.7%).

Under the Renewable Energy Policy-2025, Bangladesh aims to meet 20% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2030 and 30% by 2040. While tenders for 55 land-based solar plants with a combined capacity of 5,238 MW are underway, their implementation is expected to take until 2028.

To speed up progress, the CA emphasized launching a fast-track ‘National Rooftop Solar Programme’. "Solar panels should be installed on rooftops of all government offices and institutions," he said. "The private sector can be involved under a model where they invest and maintain the systems, while the government provides rooftop access."

He further noted that institutions which host these systems will not have to pay electricity bills and may even earn rental income for the use of their rooftops. The CA also stressed the importance of learning from existing rooftop solar installations to identify and resolve operational issues.

Among those present at the meeting were Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, and senior officials from the ministries of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and Secondary and Mass Education.