'Solar power to add 3,000-4,000 MW to grid before summer'

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has reaffirmed that the government is exerting its utmost efforts to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply with help of solar power across the country despite ongoing global energy pressures.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while officially inaugurating the "Bangladesh Solar Expo 2026" at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC) in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Tuesday (November 3).

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman noted that while global geopolitical factors continue to strain energy supplies, the current administration is focused on forward-looking solutions rather than dwelling on past systemic failures.

"Rather than criticizing past shortcomings, our focus remains squarely on how we can guarantee an uninterrupted power supply moving forward," he emphasized.

To accelerate the transition to clean energy, the Prime Minister announced that the government has created a dedicated Tk 1,500 crore fund to expand solar power infrastructure nationwide.

Key operational targets outlined by the Prime Minister include:

• Bringing 17,000 agricultural irrigation pumps under solar power coverage within the next year.

• Scaling up national solar capacity to generate 5,000 MW annually.

• Adding 3,000 to 4,000 MW of solar power to the national grid ahead of the upcoming summer peak period.

Lamenting that previous policies had turned Bangladesh into an import-dependent nation for energy needs, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman assured entrepreneurs and investors that the government will provide financial and policy support to ensure power sector projects do not stall due to funding shortages.

-SA