State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam has said the government is taking steps to gradually install solar panels on the rooftops of all government office buildings under the Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperatives divisions.

He said the initiative will help reduce electricity costs at government institutions while increasing the use of renewable energy and promoting environmentally friendly energy management.

The state minister made the remarks at two separate meetings held at the conference rooms of the Local Government Division and the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division on Tuesday (August 25).

He said the use of solar power would be expanded in phases beyond central-level offices to government institutions at the district, upazila, municipality and union levels. Expanding renewable energy use in government institutions, he added, would help establish an affordable, modern and environmentally friendly model for public service infrastructure.

According to the state minister, the government is considering the use of net metering and hybrid systems when installing solar panels. These systems would allow surplus electricity generated by solar panels to be supplied to the national grid, while also making it possible to use solar-generated power after evening hours when necessary. The government is also considering providing the financial assistance required to implement the initiative.

Mir Shahe Alam further said the government would utilize the technical expertise and experience of the private sector to expand solar power use in public institutions. To this end, coordination with companies such as Walton, PRAN-RFL and Grameen Shakti will be pursued to obtain technical assistance, with initiatives also planned to sign memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with them.

He said Prime Minister Tarek Rahman has placed special emphasis on expanding renewable energy use, reducing government expenditure and ensuring environmentally friendly development, and is regularly monitoring progress in these areas. In line with the prime minister’s directives and priorities, he urged all concerned to work together in a coordinated manner to expand solar power use across government institutions.

It may be noted that following a decision taken at a meeting on August 17, 2026, two separate committees were formed under the leadership of two additional secretaries of the Local Government Division and the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division.

The committees identified government buildings under their respective divisions where rooftop solar panels could potentially be installed. They also reviewed the total rooftop area of the identified buildings, estimated costs and existing challenges related to implementation.

The meeting was informed that the Cabinet Division issued a directive on August 10 to implement the decision to increase the use of solar power in government offices. In line with that directive, initiatives have also been undertaken to expand solar energy use in institutions under the Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperatives divisions.

Local Government Division Secretary Md. Shahidul Hasan, Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Secretary Rafiqul E Mohamed, heads of the departments and agencies under the divisions, and senior ministry officials attended the meeting. Representatives from Walton, PRAN-RFL and Grameen Shakti also participated.