HC orders action plan to establish rooftop solar panels in Dhaka
- Publish : 12:44:57 am, Tuesday, 1 July 2025
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The High Court (HC) has ordered relevant authorities to create and enforce a time-specific action plan for installing sufficient and operational solar panels on the rooftops of all buildings across Dhaka. This move will aim to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in line with environmental targets.
The directive has been issued to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), and the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) on June 30.
Additionally, the court ordered Rajuk and SREDA to activate existing rooftop solar panels on both residential and commercial properties within the capital.
The authorities must present a progress report on the execution of these orders to the court within six months, claimed the relevant specialists.
Simultaneously, the court issued a rule asking the concerned entities to explain why their failure to ensure the functionality of rooftop solar panels in Dhaka should not be deemed unconstitutional, illegal, and against public interest. The respondents are also asked to justify why they should not be instructed to operationalize all existing panels and install new, effective systems.
The rule names as respondents: the secretaries of the power, housing, and environment ministries; the heads of Rajuk and SREDA; the managing directors of Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO); and the president of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB).
The order and rule stemmed from a public interest writ petition filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA). BELA emphasized in a statement that rooftop solar panels are essential in densely populated urban areas like Dhaka to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and cut down carbon emissions.
BELA pointed out that despite the potential of rooftop solar systems to ease pressure on the national power grid and lower energy costs for residents, implementation has been lacking. Where panels exist, many remain unused due to insufficient monitoring and maintenance. The petition was filed to push for the activation of inactive panels and the installation of new ones on unused rooftops to promote sustainable energy in the capital.
