Environmental groups in Chattogram demanded withdrawal of taxes on solar equipment, saying rising costs are limiting renewable energy adoption and worsening Bangladesh’s energy crisis amid proposed electricity tariff hikes.
Environmental activists and renewable energy campaigners on Saturday demanded the withdrawal of import taxes on solar panels and related equipment, saying the existing duties are making renewable energy technology unaffordable for ordinary people and threatening the country’s energy security.
The demand was raised during a rally and human chain organised in Chattogram, the second-largest city in Bangladesh, by ISDE Bangladesh, Forum on Ecology and Development Chattogram, CLEAN and BWGED.
Speakers at the programme said Bangladesh’s worsening energy crisis has increased dependence on imported gas, coal and oil for power generation, driving up production costs and government subsidies in the electricity sector.
They said the government is already struggling to meet electricity demand while the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and power distribution companies have proposed another nearly 21 percent increase in electricity tariffs, which would place an additional economic burden on consumers.
The organisers described rooftop solar power as a sustainable and long-term solution to the crisis but said high import duties and taxes on solar panels, inverters, batteries and other related equipment have sharply increased prices.
As a result, they said, ordinary consumers, small business owners and middle-income families remain unable to adopt solar technology despite growing interest in renewable energy.
The speakers called for the immediate withdrawal of all taxes and duties imposed on solar panels and renewable energy equipment. They also urged the government to introduce special incentives, tax exemptions and easy loan facilities for the renewable energy sector in the upcoming national budget.
Among those present at the event were Consumers Association of Bangladesh central committee Vice President and ISDE Bangladesh Executive Director SM Nazer Hossain, Songlap Director Agradut Das Gupta, Odhikar Chattogram divisional coordinator Osman Jahangir, journalist Golam Sarwar, Advocate Pronob Kumar Biswas, Jubo CAB Chattogram metropolitan president Abu Hanif Noman, ISDE programme officer Raisul Islam, Abdul Mannan Jihad, environmental activists Foyez Uddin, Karimul Islam, Labiba Tabassum and Protibha Chakma.
ISDE Bangladesh campaign and advocacy officer Md Rasel Uddin along with environmental campaigners, students, renewable energy entrepreneurs, civil society representatives and local residents also joined the programme.
