Photo: BSS

DHAKA, July 10, 2026 (BSS) - University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) has taken an initiative to set up new solar projects with private investment to ensure supply of solar power to the country's public universities at a cheaper cost.

As per the plan, a target of generating about 60 megawatts of rooftop solar power has been set in 31 public universities in the first phase, a UGC press release said today.

The decision was announced at a review meeting on the installation of rooftop solar power in public universities at the UGC yesterday.

It was informed in the meeting that currently the cost of each unit of electricity produced from solar power in the country is about Taka 15. However, it is possible to reduce it to less than half in the operating cost (OPEX) model. 

A feasibility study has already been completed in 47 public and one international university. The study has mentioned that initially 31 public universities can generate 52.5 MW of solar power, which will be increased to about 60 MW after infrastructure expansion.

UGC Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed presided over the meeting. Daffodil International University Dean Professor Dr M Shamsul Alam highlighted the technical and commercial aspects of rooftop solar power generation.

He said in the experimental OPEX model, the tariff per unit of electricity was Taka 7.5. 

"When the project capacity was increased to 3.5 MW, it came down to 7 taka," he said.

If policy support, customs and tax adjustments are made, it is possible to reduce the production cost to Taka 6.5, he said.

At the meeting, UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed said, "The private investor will be fully responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of solar power plants in the OPEX model. As a result, there will be no need for any initial investment from the government. The universities will only pay for the electricity they use."

He said if tenders are invited, supervision and quality control are ensured centrally, private investment will increase further. 

This will result in a big saving in the electricity bills of the universities and the country's overall dependence on energy imports will also decrease, he said.

Commission members Professor Dr. Mohammad Anwar Hossen, Professor Dr. Md. Saidur Rahman, Professor Dr. Masuma Habib, Professor Dr. Mohammad Ayub Islam and Professor Dr. Abdullah-Al-Mamun, UGC Secretary Dr. Md. Fakhrul Islam and 31 vice-chancellors of public universities were present at the meeting, among others.