Energy ministry’s Power Division today signed MoU with five ministries and divisions on installing rooftop solar power panels. Photo: BSS

   
DHAKA, Oct 21, 2025 (BSS) – The energy ministry’s Power Division today signed memoranda of understanding (MoU) with five ministries and divisions on installing rooftop solar power panels at educational institutions and hospitals across the country.
 
   
“The government took the National Rooftop Solar Programme Initiatives to increase renewable energy,” Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Dr Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan said as he witnessed the signing at Bidyut Bhaban.

   
He expected quick completion of the panel installations and their connection to the national power grid to ensure flow the surplus power generated in the panels by February next year.

   
Officials concerned said the Initiative aimed to increase renewable energy under OPEX model, subscription-like payments for the service where the institutions will not have to bear installation expenses for the solar projects.

   
He said the promotion of solar power would particularly reduce dependence on expensive imported liquefied natural gas (LNG).

   
“We have been able to increase production by 50 million cubic feet in the last 6 months. (Yet) we are importing LNG to meet the shortage,” the adviser said.

   
Primary and mass education ministry, health services division, secondary and higher education division, technical and madrasah education division and women and family welfare division signed the MoU with the power division.

   
Signatory organisations would implement “National Rooftop Solar Programme Initiative 'B' which covers educational Institutions and health facilities.

   
The introduction of the system would largely save their electricity bills.
The government fixed a target of 2000-3000 megawatts of electricity generation under categories ‘A’ and ‘B’.

   
The adviser said solar power appeared to have a major stake in their power production in every country particularly noting that 75 percent electricity comes from power in neighbouring Sri Lanka.

   
The adviser said that solar power no more remained as very high-tech subject now and “It is possible to start generating electricity by bringing and installing panels here.”

   
He asked the distribution companies to prepare tender process for electricity generation from renewable sources. 

   
A state-run company representative said that they would invite tenders within 35 days next.
 
    
Power division secretary Farzana Momtaz said that there is 308 square feet of space on roofs of 46,854 institutions across the country under in ‘B’ category.
 
   
“It is possible to generate 1,451 MW of electricity from these roofs. Tenders have already been invited and the project implementation will start before December,” she said.

   
Chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Rezaul Karim said that tenders were invited after confirming space through distribution companies.

   
The Rural Electrification Board (REB) official said that the REB will be able to generate 1,064 MW power from roofs under its jurisdiction.

   
Officials said under the arrangement bidders would invest in the projects while commercial banks and various financing institutions will finance to the bidders. 

   
“Discussions have been held with commercial banks regarding obtaining low-interest loans under the Green Finance Fund,” she added.