Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood today said all duties on solar power equipment have been withdrawn to promote renewable energy in the country, says BSS report.
“Although it has been discussed for a long time, but previous governments did not take effective initiatives in this regard. The present government has taken steps shortly after assuming office,” he said.
Addressing at an inaugural ceremony of the three-day ‘Renewable Energy Fest 2026’ at central playground of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) this morning, he said the President issued an ordinance in this regard, adding that a special energy law would subsequently be placed before the parliament.
He said the government announced a special incentive package to encourage consumers to install rooftop solar power systems with battery storage, as part of its efforts to expand renewable energy and strengthen energy security.
Under the Net Metering Guidelines 2025, consumers who install rooftop solar systems by February 28, 2027, and supply surplus electricity to the national grid will receive Tk 10.50 per unit for three years, until February 28, 2030, he added.
Highlighting government initiatives to promote renewable energy, Iqbal said the special energy law had drawn criticism, alleging that the previous government had enacted the law to serve vested interests.
“Our national grid is not modern. Electricity from nuclear, fossil fuel-based and renewable sources will be integrated into this grid, but the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) is not yet ready for this,” he said.
He added that the BNP government had started work to modernise the grid, adding, “If you cooperate, we will be able to reach our target of generating 10,000 megawatts of renewable electricity by 2030.”
Mentioning the challenges, Bangladesh is facing the power and energy sectors, he said, “Nobody wants to understand our problems. We are still struggling with these problems. We have to buy at higher prices and sell at lower prices.”
Referring to liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, the minister said Bangladesh’s supply was disrupted by bombing attacks while the country was dependent on Qatar.
At that time, the government had to purchase LNG cargoes at US$30 per unit instead of US$10-12, he said.
Mentioning the country’s substantial underground resources, Iqbal said not a single well had been drilled in the past 17 years. He said the country would have to suffer for another 50 to 60 years because of poor planning and mismanagement during that period.
BUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Ekramul Haque said the country’s power and energy sectors were at a critical juncture, adding, “Rising energy prices on the international market had put pressure on the economy, and expanding renewable energy could play an important role in the current situation.”
Country director of ActionAid Bangladesh Farah Kabir said the need for new research on energy. “Around 96 percent of Bangladesh’s electricity generation depends on fossil fuels, most of which are imported,” she added.
ActionAid Bangladesh, BUET, Just Energy Transition Network Bangladesh (JETNET-BD) and BUET’s Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD) jointly organised the fair, which will continue until October 28.
More than 1,000 participants, including young people, women, workers, civil society organisations and climate activists attended the fair.