Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus has directed all government buildings, including ministries, schools, colleges, and hospitals, to install solar panels as part of a nationwide effort to ease the country’s worsening power crisis, reported AFP.
As per the news report, the decision comes as Bangladesh struggles with frequent power outages, worsened by severe heatwaves that have increased reliance on air conditioning and pushed up energy demand.
The government has set a target to generate 20% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030—four times the current share—and aims to reach 30% by 2040, according to a statement issued on June 26 by Yunus’s office.
“Bangladesh is falling far behind its neighbours,” the statement said. “Only 5.6% of our electricity needs are currently met from renewable sources, compared to 24% in India and nearly 40% in Sri Lanka.”
Under the new rooftop solar programme, private companies will install and maintain solar panels on government buildings. The government will provide rooftop access but leave installation and upkeep to the private sector. Officials say this model will avoid the problems faced under the previous government’s solar efforts, which were largely managed by state agencies and saw limited success.
“The private sector will take responsibility for system maintenance and performance, driven by their own business interests,” the statement explained.
The government has also begun tendering for 55 large-scale solar power plants, which together are expected to provide 5,238 megawatts of power once completed.
Currently, Bangladesh imports electricity from neighbouring India and Nepal to help meet demand, particularly during the peak summer months.
The country is also working to expand its domestic power supply with the help of a Russia-backed nuclear power project in Rooppur. Once completed, the 2,400-megawatt plant will be Bangladesh’s largest power facility by output. Construction began in 2017, but the project has faced multiple delays.
