SOLAR POWER
THE Sun remains the Earth’s oldest and most dependable source of energy. Without sunlight, life itself would not exist. Every day, the world receives immense amounts of heat and light from the Sun, and modern technology now allows this energy to be converted directly into electricity through solar power systems. Unlike fossil fuels, solar energy is renewable, abundant, and naturally available.
For billions of years, the Sun has continued to supply energy to the planet, and scientists believe it will continue to do so for billions more. Yet despite living under a climate rich in sunlight for most of the year, Bangladesh still depends heavily on imported fuel oil, gas, and coal to meet its growing electricity demand. Every year, vast amounts of foreign currency leave the country to pay for energy imports needed for power generation, irrigation, transportation, and industrial production. This dependence has made the national energy sector increasingly vulnerable to global fuel price fluctuations and supply uncertainties.
In this context, solar power is no longer simply an environmental discussion; it has become an economic and strategic necessity. Bangladesh possesses a natural advantage that many developed countries do not. Even European states with long winters and limited sunlight are rapidly expanding renewable energy because they recognise that sustainable power will define the future of economic stability and industrial growth. Bangladesh, with its long hours of sunshine and widespread open rooftops, has even greater potential to expand solar electricity generation on a large scale.
Solar panels already demonstrate how versatile this technology can be. They can supply electricity to homes, agricultural irrigation systems, factories, offices, transport systems, calculators, street lighting, satellites, and numerous other applications. The technology itself is relatively simple. A solar system generally requires three major components: solar panels, an inverter, and batteries. Solar panels often remain functional for 20 to 30 years, while inverters are comparatively affordable and durable. The most expensive component, however, remains the battery system, which usually requires replacement every few years.
This is where one of the central barriers to solar expansion in Bangladesh emerges. High import duties on solar batteries significantly increase installation costs for ordinary consumers. For low-income and rural households, the initial investment often appears unrealistic. A rural family spending only Tk 500 or Tk 600 monthly on electricity naturally hesitates when faced with installation costs of Tk 10,000 to Tk 15,000 or more for a solar system. Even if the long-term savings are substantial, the upfront expense discourages adoption.
As a result, the discussion around renewable energy in Bangladesh cannot remain limited to technology alone. Policy intervention is equally essential. If the government genuinely intends to expand solar power, it must address affordability. Reducing taxes on solar batteries, offering subsidised financing, introducing easy instalment facilities, and expanding low-interest loans for renewable energy projects could significantly increase public participation. Without such measures, solar energy risks remaining confined to wealthier urban households or commercial projects rather than becoming a nationwide solution.
At the same time, Bangladesh already possesses the physical infrastructure needed for rapid solar expansion. Rooftops across cities, towns, factories, educational institutions, and rural homes remain largely unused for energy generation. In villages, tin-roofed houses and open spaces offer even greater opportunities for installing solar panels. If utilised properly, these spaces could support both on-grid and off-grid systems, reducing pressure on the national electricity network while also expanding access in underserved areas.
The wider economic implications are equally important. A stronger solar sector would reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, help preserve foreign currency reserves, and gradually move the country toward greater energy self-sufficiency. It would also contribute to reducing environmental pollution and carbon emissions at a time when climate vulnerability continues to threaten Bangladesh through floods, heatwaves, cyclones, and rising sea levels. Renewable energy is therefore not only an economic issue but also a question of environmental resilience and long-term national security.
Encouragingly, recent government statements suggest that renewable energy may finally be receiving greater institutional attention. On May 7, at the inauguration of the three-day BIID Expo on power, energy, and construction equipment at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmud announced plans to expand solar panel installations in homes across the capital to reduce pressure on the electricity grid. He stated that a new policy framework aimed at making solar power more accessible is expected to be introduced through a government order by next June.
The minister also acknowledged an important reality: Bangladesh has lagged behind in renewable energy partly because of weak leadership and inadequate policy direction. The government now claims it intends to place greater emphasis on solar and wind energy as part of the country’s future energy strategy. Alongside this, authorities have reportedly set a target to add another 809.5 megawatts of solar electricity to the national grid by 2028. At present, Bangladesh generates approximately 1,451 megawatts of solar electricity, accounting for just over 5 percent of total electricity generation capacity.
These initiatives represent progress, but they must move beyond announcements and targets. Bangladesh’s long-term electricity demands cannot be sustainably met through continued dependence on oil-, gas-, and coal-based projects alone. Temporary expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure may ease short-term shortages, but it will deepen financial pressure, increase import dependence, and worsen environmental risks over time.
Electricity remains essential for industrial growth, healthcare, education, agriculture, and modern daily life. Ensuring a stable and affordable power supply is therefore one of the country’s most urgent development challenges. In a nation blessed with abundant sunlight, failing to invest seriously in solar energy would mean neglecting one of the most practical and sustainable solutions available. With proper planning, supportive policies, and affordable financing mechanisms, solar power could become not merely an alternative source of energy, but one of the central pathways out of Bangladesh’s recurring electricity crisis.
 
Mafizur Rahman, a market analyst and financial management consultant, is managing director of Gold Bell Corporation.
Editor: Nurul Kabir, Published by the Chairman, Editorial Board ASM Shahidullah Khan on behalf of Media New Age Ltd.
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