Dhaka:Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood announced today that all duties on solar power equipment have been removed to encourage the growth of renewable energy within the country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the announcement was made during the inaugural ceremony of the three-day 'Renewable Energy Fest 2026' at the central playground of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). The minister stated that an ordinance has been issued by the President in this regard, and a special energy law will be presented to parliament soon.
The government has also introduced a special incentive package to motivate consumers to install rooftop solar power systems with battery storage. This initiative is part of the government's broader efforts to expand renewable energy and strengthen energy security. Under the Net Metering Guidelines 2025, consumers installing rooftop solar systems by February 28, 2027, and supplying surplus electricity to the national grid will receive Tk 10.50 per unit for a three-year period, ending February 28, 2030.
Minister Iqbal highlighted ongoing government efforts to promote renewable energy, mentioning that the special energy law has faced criticism, with claims that the previous government had enacted it to serve vested interests. He also noted challenges in modernizing the national grid, which is not yet ready to integrate electricity from nuclear, fossil fuel-based, and renewable sources. The minister stressed the importance of cooperation to achieve the target of generating 10,000 megawatts of renewable electricity by 2030.
The minister also discussed challenges facing Bangladesh's power and energy sectors, including the country's dependency on LNG imports from Qatar, which have been disrupted by bombing attacks, leading to higher purchase prices. Additionally, he lamented the lack of drilling for underground resources in the past 17 years, which he said would have long-term repercussions due to poor planning and mismanagement.
BUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Ekramul Haque emphasized the critical state of the country's power and energy sectors, citing rising international energy prices as a strain on the economy. Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, called for new research on energy, noting that 96 percent of Bangladesh's electricity generation relies on imported fossil fuels.
The Renewable Energy Fest 2026, organized by ActionAid Bangladesh, BUET, Just Energy Transition Network Bangladesh (JETNET-BD), and BUET's Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD), will run until October 28 and has attracted over 1,000 participants, including young people, women, workers, civil society organizations, and climate activists.