In an effort to boost solar energy generation, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday instructed all concerned to take initiatives to generate solar power by installing solar panels on the roofs of all government buildings in the country.

The Chief Adviser gave the instruction at a meeting titled 'National Rooftop Solar Programme' held at the State Guest House Jamuna.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, and senior officials of the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources and Secondary and Mass Education Ministries were present at the meeting.

In the meeting, Prof Yunus directed the adoption of a quickly implementable 'National Rooftop Solar Programme'.

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As part of this, he directed all concerned to take necessary measures to install rooftop solar systems on the roofs of all government buildings, schools-colleges-madrasas and all government hospitals.

According to the 2024 report of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), officials present at the meeting said, Bangladesh is far behind its neighboring countries in expanding solar power and meeting the set targets.

While India produces 24 percent of the total electricity demand, Pakistan 17.16 percent, and Sri Lanka 39.7 percent, only 5.6 percent of the total electricity demand is generated from solar power in Bangladesh.

According to the Renewable Energy Policy 2025, the target for generation from renewable energy has been set at 20 percent of the total electricity demand by 2030 and 30 percent by 2040.

To achieve this target, the tender process for 55 land-based solar power plants with a capacity of 5238 MW has already started. However, the concerned said that it will take time until 2028 to implement it, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing.

The Chief Adviser said, “Consider whether the installation of solar panels in government buildings can be done by private initiatives. Those who install them will maintain it in their own business interests, operate it effectively. Only the roof will be provided by the government; they will do the rest of the work.”

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“We need to know about the experience of all the institutions that have done rooftop solar so far. We need to know what kind of problems they have faced. We need to move towards solving those problems,” he said.