Solar Irrigation Seen as the Only Sustainable Option for Bangladesh’s Agriculture: IEB
Speakers at a seminar titled “Prospects and Challenges of Solar Irrigation in Bangladesh” have said that solar irrigation is indispensable for expanding the use of sustainable energy, ensuring energy security, and reducing carbon emissions in the country’s agricultural sector. They noted that Bangladesh currently has nearly double its required electricity generation capacity, forcing the government to pay a substantial amount in capacity charges, which is placing significant financial pressure on the national economy. To overcome this situation, they stressed the need for diversified and efficient use of electricity.
The seminar was organized by the Agricultural Engineering Division of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) on Monday evening, January 12, at the IEB Council Hall in Ramna, Dhaka.
Chaired by Engineer Golam Mawla, Chairman of the Agricultural Engineering Division, the event was moderated by Engineer Md Belal Siddiqi, Secretary of the division. The welcome address was delivered by Engineer Sabbir Ahmed Osmani, Honorary General Secretary (Acting) of IEB.
IEB Vice President (Academic and International) Engineer Khan Manzur Morshed attended the seminar as the chief guest. In his speech, he emphasized that providing zero-percent tax or duty-free facilities on imported solar panels is essential to promote solar power and make it accessible to the general public. He said reducing import costs would encourage the establishment of more solar power plants at both individual and commercial levels, thereby lowering dependence on fossil fuels. Solar irrigation, he added, can significantly reduce agricultural production costs while contributing to environmental protection and climate change mitigation. Expanding solar irrigation as an alternative to diesel-powered irrigation pumps, he noted, is both timely and essential.
Special guests included Dr Ashraful Alam, Member (Joint Secretary) of the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA); Engineer Muhammad Badiul Alam Sarkar, Chief Engineer of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC); and Alamgir Morshed, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of IDCOL. The keynote paper was presented by Md Sarwar Hossain, Chief Engineer of BADC.
Speakers at the seminar highlighted the importance of policy support, stronger financing frameworks, technological upgrades, and institutional coordination to expand solar irrigation across the country.
DBTech/SIR/MUM/OR
