Energy experts and environmental activists on Thursday urged the government to ensure effective implementation of the tax and duty incentives announced for the renewable energy sector in the national budget for fiscal year 2026-27 and to formulate a clear roadmap to maximise their benefits.
They said proper execution of the measures would help strengthen the country’s energy security, reduce dependence on imported fuels and accelerate the transition to clean energy.
The call came at a discussion titled “Incentives for the Renewable Energy Sector in the National Budget 2026-2027: A Promising Foundation for a Sustainable Energy Future” held at CIRDAP in the capital on Thursday. The programme was organised by environmental organisation Dharitri Rokkhay Amra, or DHORA.
Speaking as chief guest, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jalal Ahmed said the expansion of renewable energy was no longer only an environmental concern but also a key requirement for ensuring energy security, saving foreign exchange and maintaining export competitiveness.
“If the budgetary support measures are implemented properly, achieving the target of generating 7,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2030 will be possible,” he said.
The keynote paper was presented by Shafiqul Alam, lead energy analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, or IEEFA.
He said renewable energy currently contributes only 2.3 percent of the country’s electricity generation, far below the global average of around 34 percent, while reliance on imported energy has continued to rise.
According to him, the proposed tax and duty exemptions on imports of solar panels, inverters, lithium batteries and related equipment could reduce the cost of rooftop solar systems by 15 to 20 percent, encouraging wider adoption of solar power in industrial and commercial sectors.
Chairing the session, DHORA Co-Convener M S Siddiqui said private sector investment in renewable energy must increase alongside government initiatives. He stressed the need to remove technological and investment-related barriers to facilitate sectoral growth.
Speakers at the event also highlighted the importance of ensuring an investment-friendly environment, long-term policy stability, grid modernisation and investment in energy storage technologies. They called for making incentive facilities more accessible to small and medium entrepreneurs as well as household-level users.
The event was attended by DHORA Member Secretary Sharif Jamil, university teachers, energy experts, researchers, development professionals and environmental activists.
