The government has issued the Special Solar Power Installation Ordinance, 2026, allowing the establishment of solar power projects with a maximum capacity of five megawatts to accelerate the expansion of solar energy systems.
The gazette notification was issued on Monday.
The ordinance allows solar power projects on rooftops, courtyards, unused land and tea gardens, as well as floating and agrivoltaic systems.
It also prescribes imprisonment and fines for theft, vandalism, illegal connections and obstruction of solar power systems.
Solar power systems with a maximum capacity of five megawatts will be considered "special solar power systems" under the ordinance. However, large-scale ground-mounted solar power projects will remain outside its scope.
A tripartite agreement among the consumer, service provider and competent authority will be required for installing a special solar power system, following a government-prescribed standard contract template. The agreement will specify site-use rights, equipment standards, e-waste management, manufacturers' take-back schemes for discarded equipment, electricity tariffs and net-metering facilities.
A National Policy Council, headed by the prime minister, will be formed to oversee solar power expansion and policy coordination. Ministers or state ministers and senior secretaries from relevant ministries, including finance, law and power, will be members of the council.
District Technical and Coordination Committees, chaired by deputy commissioners (DCs), will also be formed, with superintendents of police, local engineers and district-level heads of power agencies as members. The committees will submit reports to the council every three months.
Meanwhile, Upazila Technical and Coordination Committees, led by upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs), will supervise field-level activities and report to the district committees every month.
The ordinance prescribes penalties for various offences to protect solar power systems. Theft of electricity or equipment, as well as buying, selling or possessing stolen goods, is punishable by up to three years' imprisonment, a fine of Tk50,000, or both.
Vandalizing or damaging solar panels or equipment carries a penalty of up to five years' imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk5,00,000. Illegal connections without written authorisation from the competent authority and obstructing personnel engaged in the installation, inspection or maintenance of solar power systems are punishable by up to three years' imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk5 lakh.
The ordinance also bars civil or criminal cases or other legal proceedings against the government, competent authorities or their officials and employees for actions taken in good faith under the ordinance, even if such actions cause or are likely to cause harm.
