Dhaka:A parliamentary panel has decided to conduct a feasibility study on the installation of solar panels at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban complex. The project aims to ensure that the original architectural design by Louis I Kahn is not compromised and that the ecological balance and biodiversity of the area are maintained.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the decision was made during the committee's first meeting held at the Parliament building on Thursday, chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal, who is also the committee convener. The meeting focused on assessing the total electricity demand of the Parliament building and its premises, ways to reduce power consumption and system losses, and identifying suitable open spaces for the installation of solar panels.
The committee plans to prepare a map to identify potential sites for solar installations and develop a three-dimensional animation of the proposed plan for presentation at its next meeting. It is recommended that the feasibility of the installations be evaluated by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) or another reputable institution to ensure that the building's original architectural design and the ecological balance remain intact.
A subcommittee comprising MPs Md Ashraf Uddin, Lutfullahil Majed, and Mardia Momtaz has been formed to examine the overall feasibility of the proposed installations and prepare a report. Officials from the Parliament Secretariat, the Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC), the Department of Architecture, and the Public Works Department will assist the subcommittee.
The meeting also decided that a report on the potential damage caused by keeping the air-conditioning system switched off outside parliamentary sessions would be submitted to the subcommittee within 15 days. This report is expected to assess the possible consequences of suspending air conditioning when the Parliament is not in session.
Furthermore, the committee decided not to take responsibility for the ongoing initiative to install solar panels on the roof of the MP Hostel, for which the Development Project Proposal has already been prepared. The meeting was attended by committee members, including Opposition Chief Whip Md Nahid Islam, Md Ashraf Uddin, Lutfullahil Majed, Md Saiful Alam, and Mardia Momtaz.