Govt making every effort to ensure uninterrupted power supply: PM

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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman declared on Tuesday that the government is deploying all available resources to secure an uninterrupted power supply, announcing a Tk 1,500 crore (15 billion BDT) dedicated fund to accelerate the nation's transition toward cost-effective solar energy.

Speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the Bangladesh Solar Expo-2026 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, the Prime Minister outlined a comprehensive clean-energy roadmap designed to bolster domestic generation, reduce reliance on foreign fuel imports, and phase out expensive legacy emergency power arrangements.

Emphasizing the need to increase domestic power generation to build a self-reliant Bangladesh, the Prime Minister described the Bangladesh Solar Expo as a significant step toward ensuring a steady power supply through indigenous energy sources.

He further remarked that the participation of entrepreneurs, service providers, and young professionals from across the country in the Solar Expo demonstrates that it is possible to generate electricity cost-effectively—an alternative to the exploitative practices seen under the 'quick rental' power plant scheme. In Bangladesh, renewable energy is no longer merely a sector of potential; it has become an unavoidable reality.

The Prime Minister announced that the government has established a fund of 15 billion BDT (1,500 crore) to expand solar energy. Within one year, 17,000 irrigation pumps across the country will be transitioned to solar power. The goal is to generate 5,000 megawatts of electricity annually from solar sources, with 3,000 to 4,000 megawatts expected to be added to the national grid before the coming summer.

Pointing out that the country had previously been rendered entirely dependent on imports, the Prime Minister assured that the government is doing its utmost to ensure that entrepreneurs are not held back by a lack of capital.