TDS Desk

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will start using solar power at his residence from October 1, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam said on Saturday.

He also said solar panels would have to be installed at all Union Parishad complexes within the next six months.

The state minister made the remarks at a discussion meeting on the development activities of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), held at the LGED building on Saturday (September 19).

Shahe Alam said the government was taking steps to bring not only the prime minister’s residence but also the Secretariat, Jatiya Sangsad and various other government institutions under solar power in phases.

According to the state minister, the government has taken an initiative to install solar power systems at 3,416 ready Union Parishad complex buildings across the country.

A total of Tk 119.56 crore has been allocated for installing solar power systems with a capacity of 5.5 kilowatts at each complex, he said.

Under the government’s plan, the solar systems are expected to meet the electricity demand of the respective Union Parishads. The authorities also plan to expand opportunities to supply surplus electricity to the national grid through net metering, Shahe Alam said.

He said the installation of solar panels at Union Parishad complexes would be completed within six months.

The initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to increase the use of renewable energy at public institutions.