High Court Orders Action on Idle Solar Panels and Rooftop Installations in Dhaka
The High Court has directed Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) and the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) to activate already-installed solar panels on residential and commercial buildings in Dhaka. In addition, the court instructed the Secretary of the Power Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, the Chairmen of RAJUK and SREDA, to formulate and implement a time-bound action plan for installing sufficient and effective solar panels on the rooftops of every building in Dhaka city.
The directive came on June 30 (Monday) during a primary hearing of a writ petition by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), with the High Court bench comprising Justice Md Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Faiz Ahmed. The court has also issued a rule, asking all concerned authorities to submit an implementation report within six months.
Lawyer S Hasanul Banna appeared for BELA, while Deputy Attorney General Mahfuzur Rahman represented the state. BELA filed the writ in April 2025.
Lawyer S Hasanul Banna stated that the High Court's directive aligns with the Prime Advisor’s earlier instruction on June 26, which emphasized initiating solar power generation on the rooftops of government buildings. “The High Court has now extended this to all residential and commercial buildings in Dhaka, instructing the development of a time-bound implementation plan,” he added.
The rule issued by the court questions why the failure to activate already-installed solar panels should not be declared unlawful and against public interest. It also inquires why directions should not be issued to ensure the full functionality of existing panels and the installation of sufficient and effective solar panels on all rooftops across Dhaka to meet national and international commitments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The rule has been addressed to the Secretary of the Power Division, the Secretaries of the Ministries of Housing and Public Works and Environment, the Chairmen of RAJUK and SREDA, the Managing Directors of Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd. (DPDC) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company Ltd. (DESCO), and the President of the Real Estate & Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB).
BELA argued that in the context of global climate change, solar power—as a renewable energy source—plays a vital role in reducing dependency on fossil fuels and minimizing carbon emissions. It noted that the densely populated city of Dhaka has no alternative but to utilize its unused rooftops to generate solar energy. These solar rooftops can become productive energy platforms, alleviating the load on the national grid and reducing consumer electricity costs.
Despite the enormous potential, BELA contended that the responsible authorities have been slow to act, and a significant number of already-installed solar panels remain non-functional due to poor oversight. The petition seeks to revitalize these dormant systems and promote widespread rooftop solar adoption to curb fossil fuel use, thereby reducing carbon emissions and helping manage rising temperatures in the capital.
