Dhaka: The government has mandated the installation of rooftop solar power systems on all Zila Parishad buildings nationwide, a move aimed at promoting sustainable energy use and curbing electricity consumption.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Local Government Division issued an urgent notification on September 16, instructing relevant authorities to complete the installation of these systems by January 31, 2027. This directive aligns with a Power Division instruction dated September 1, which was communicated to administrators and chief executive officers of all Zila Parishads.
The notification specifies that solar systems must be installed at all main government office buildings at district and upazila levels under the Local Government Division, as well as facilities owned by Zila Parishads. The solar setups, featuring at least two hours of battery backup, will be installed at various offices, auditoriums, dak bungalows, haats and bazaars, and other Zila Parishad buildings.
Funding for the solar panel installations will be sourced from the Annual Development Programme (ADP) or the revenue budget. The notification also mandates that surplus electricity generated by these systems, beyond the establishments' needs, be supplied to the national grid under the net metering system.
Under the Net Metering Guideline, 2025, Zila Parishads will receive Tk 10.50 per unit of electricity supplied to the grid, offering an additional income stream. Financially self-sufficient Zila Parishads are expected to use their own funds for the installations, while ADP funds may support expanding solar power for commercial purposes.
For financially non-self-sufficient Zila Parishads, the programme will be implemented with financial and technical assistance from companies enlisted by the respective electricity distribution utilities, following the National Rooftop Solar Programme Implementation Guideline. Additionally, Zila Parishads are required to sign agreements with the installation companies on non-judicial stamp paper, ensuring repair and maintenance services for the next two decades.