The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) has undertaken an initiative to implement the country’s first Public-Private Partnership (PPP)-based solar power project on government land in Sonagazi, Feni. To this end, the authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
The MoU was signed on Thursday, 7 May, at Bidyut Bhaban in Dhaka by BEZA Executive Board Secretary (Joint Secretary) Julia Moin and BPDB Secretary Afroza Sultana.
According to BEZA, the large-scale solar power plant is planned to be established on approximately 412 acres of BEZA-owned land in Sonagazi, Feni, under the National Special Economic Zone being developed in the Mirsarai and Feni regions of Chattogram.
Stakeholders view the initiative as a landmark step in utilizing unused government land for renewable energy generation.
The project will be implemented under the “Guidelines for Development of Renewable Energy Projects Using Land Owned by Government Agencies under PPP Modality, 2026,” approved by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. The government approved these new guidelines on 7 April.
Earlier, on 6 March 2025, the Advisory Committee on Economic Affairs granted in-principle approval for implementing the project under the PPP model. Subsequently, on 2 April, a meeting of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources decided to execute the project as a ‘pilot project’ under the new guidelines.
According to the guidelines, BPDB will act as the ‘contracting authority’ for implementing renewable energy projects on government land under the PPP model, while BEZA will remain the land-owning entity.
BEZA believes that the implementation of this project will promote environmentally friendly industrialization and increase the use of green energy within the National Special Economic Zone. It is also expected to contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensure effective utilization of government land, and create new opportunities for attracting private investment in the renewable energy sector.
The authority further stated that a ‘market sounding’ workshop involving local and foreign entrepreneurs will be organized soon to explore the project’s potential and investment opportunities. The integration of modern technologies, including battery storage systems, is also under consideration.
Senior officials from BEZA, BPDB, and the PPP Authority were present at the event.
DBTech/SA/EK/OR
