Dhaka:Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood announced that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has opted for solar power over grid electricity.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mahmood shared this development during a press conference at Bidyut Bhaban, urging citizens to emulate the Prime Minister by installing solar panels. The event coincided with the announcement of the inaugural "Bangladesh Solar Expo 2026," organized jointly by the Power Division, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL).
The two-day expo, set for November 3 and 4 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Agargaon, will focus on the theme "Use Every Inch of Rooftop, Increase Income from Solar Power." Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is slated to inaugurate the event.
The expo aims to boost public participation in solar energy and hasten the nation's shift to green energy. Mahmood highlighted the government's efforts to alleviate electricity shortages, particularly during summer, and criticized past administrations for inadequate energy planning. The government is exploring battery backup solutions to store surplus electricity and plans to purchase solar power from individuals through net metering.
State Minister Aninda Islam Amit reiterated the government's commitment to reducing electricity shortages by 2030, while Power Division Secretary Mirana Mahrukh discussed potential cost implications of solar power generation with and without battery storage. Bangladesh Power Development Board Chairman Engineer Md Rezaul Karim mentioned the possibility of increasing electricity supply by 3,000-4,000 megawatts by February next year, addressing recent power disruptions attributed to vegetation near power grids.