Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for ensuring that young people’s innovative ideas are not left unrealised because of a lack of funding.
“A single innovative idea from you could prove to be a game-changer for Bangladesh,” he said, adding that the government had allocated Tk500 crore annually for startups in the current budget.
He made the remarks while addressing the inauguration of a two-day Solar Expo as the chief guest on Tuesday morning at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Agargaon, Dhaka.
The exhibition, themed “Utilize every inch of your rooftop and increase income through solar energy,” opened to visitors immediately after the inaugural ceremony. The prime minister also toured various stalls.
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud presided over the event.
The prime minister said Bangladesh had previously become heavily dependent on imported energy, leaving the country vulnerable to disruptions in global supply chains caused by international conflicts.
To help stabilize the country's energy and power supply, the government had provided Tk43,000 crore in subsidies to the power sector in the 2025-26 fiscal year, he said.
He added that electricity demand remained at a similar level in the current fiscal year and that the government had increased its diesel reserves. Initiatives had also been taken to ensure adequate coal supplies for coal-fired power plants, while efforts to engage alternative suppliers were continuing.
The government had allocated Tk600 crore to procure fuel oil for electricity generation, he said.
Rather than spending time debating the failures or roles of previous governments in energy security and power generation, the government's priority was to meet future electricity demand and ensure an uninterrupted supply for households and businesses, he added.
He said the government was pursuing several initiatives simultaneously, including reviewing power-sector expenditure and contracts, intensifying domestic gas exploration, diversifying energy sources and rapidly expanding solar power generation.