Local Governments urged to lead Rooftop Solar Power Expansion

Rayhan Ahmed, Mymensingh Bureau: Local government institutions should take the lead in expanding rooftop solar power as Bangladesh faces rising electricity demand, growing dependence on fossil fuels and increasing climate-related risks, speakers said at a dialogue in Mymensingh on Saturday.They said rooftops of homes, businesses, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, markets and government buildings could become an important source of clean electricity if local authorities, communities, private-sector actors and financial institutions work together.The views were expressed at a dialogue titled “Dialogue with Representatives of Local Government Institutions and Local Stakeholders”, held at the meeting room of Paribartan Unnayan Sangstha in Mymensingh.The programme was jointly organised by the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), Onnochitra Foundation and the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development (BWGED). Selima Begum, president of FED-Mymensingh, chaired the programme.Speaking at the event, Selima said discussions on renewable energy should not remain confined to the national level.“People at the grassroots must be involved in the transition to renewable energy,” she said, stressing that local governments, social organisations and community leaders could jointly encourage the installation of rooftop solar systems in homes, businesses and institutions.She also said public interest in solar power could grow if its economic and environmental benefits were explained to people in simple and accessible language.“Local government institutions can become the closest partners of the people in this effort,” she added.Mymensingh District Information Office Director Mir Akram Uddin Ahmed, the chief guest at the programme, said a lack of adequate information remains one of the major obstacles to wider adoption of rooftop solar power.Many people, he said, still do not have a clear understanding of the benefits of solar electricity, the installation process, costs and its long-term advantages.He suggested that district information offices, local government bodies and non-governmental organisations could jointly conduct awareness campaigns.Successful solar projects should also be showcased before the public so that people can develop greater confidence in the technology, he said.Women and marginalised communities need priorityNaznin Sultana, deputy director of the Department of Women Affairs in Mymensingh and a special guest, said the expansion of renewable energy is closely linked to social and economic development.Reliable electricity can support women entrepreneurs, small businesses, education and household-based productive activities, she said.Therefore, women and marginalised communities should receive particular attention in awareness and renewable-energy programmes, she added. Another special guest, Rebecca Sultana, executive director of Onnochitra Foundation, said a large number of rooftops in urban and semi-urban areas remain underutilised.“These rooftops can be used to generate solar electricity, helping reduce pressure on the national grid,” she said.According to her, rooftop solar can help Bangladesh reduce dependence on fossil fuels, cut carbon emissions and strengthen energy security at the local level.But achieving this, she said, would require effective coordination among local governments, financial institutions, the private sector, solar service providers and ordinary citizens.Participants in the dialogue said local government institutions could lead by example by installing solar systems on their own offices as well as on educational institutions, health centres, markets and other public buildings.They suggested that local authorities could also identify suitable rooftops, organise public-awareness programmes, connect potential users with qualified solar service providers and incorporate renewable energy into local development plans.Speakers placed particular emphasis on access to affordable financing, quality solar equipment, technical assistance and regular maintenance.They said these measures would help address some of the practical concerns that discourage households and institutions from investing in rooftop solar.The participants stressed that rooftop solar should not be viewed merely as an alternative source of electricity. Rather, they described it as a practical pathway towards locally produced clean energy, greater climate resilience and sustainable development.The programme concluded with a call for stronger participation and coordinated initiatives by local government institutions to expand rooftop solar power in Mymensingh and other parts of Bangladesh.