Govt Plans 5,000MW Solar Power in Next Five Years

Of the 1,700MW of solar projects approved in Bangladesh, less than 200MW actually made it to commercial operation date (COD).

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku has said the government aims to generate 5,000 megawatts of electricity from solar energy within the next five years.

He said the initiative will begin with the installation of solar panels at all deputy commissioner offices across the country within the next three months.

Speaking to journalists after attending the third day of the DC Conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium on Monday, the minister said the plan is part of a broader push to expand renewable energy use nationwide.

He noted that rural electricity distribution systems involve long transmission lines, which can sometimes lead to temporary disruptions when technical faults occur.

“Such interruptions are usually restored quickly after repairs,” he said, adding that these should not generally be described as load shedding.

The minister also clarified that recent power interruptions in some areas were caused by technical faults, not fuel shortages.

Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku rejected claims linking the disruptions to fuel supply issues, saying there is no shortage of fuel in the system.

He thanked district commissioners for their efforts in addressing what he described as misinformation regarding fuel availability.

At the conference, field officials were briefed on the country’s current power and energy situation so they can share accurate information at the local level.

The minister said district commissioners have assured full cooperation in expanding renewable energy projects.

He added that the solar power initiative is aligned with the government’s sustainable development goals and is aimed at building an environmentally friendly energy system.