Bangladesh’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku announced that the government has set a target to generate 10,000 megawatts of solar power within the next five years to address the country’s electricity shortage. He made the statement on Monday at the Bangladesh-China Renewable Energy Forum organized by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in Dhaka’s Gulshan. The minister said unused government land will be identified and allocated for large-scale solar projects through inter-ministerial coordination, including land along the Jamuna River.

He added that unused land owned by agencies such as the railway will be brought under investment, and a committee has been formed to implement major projects under public-private partnerships. The minister acknowledged that private power producers’ dues, dollar shortages, and high fuel import costs have worsened the power situation, though some improvement in load-shedding is expected in the coming weeks. BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud bin Harun said new guidelines will allow private investors to use government land for 15 to 20 years, with a pilot project already underway in Feni’s Sonagazi.

CPD Research Director Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem emphasized that renewable energy is essential for energy security as fossil fuel-based economies face growing uncertainty. He noted that over $9 billion in investment will be needed to achieve the 10,000 MW green power goal by 2030.