SREDA proposes slashing solar duties to 15% to rescue 2030 goals

The Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) has formally moved to dismantle the “punitive” fiscal barriers currently choking the nation’s solar expansion, according to its Director Engr Md Muzibur Rahman.
Speaking with the Daily Sun, Muzibur, a deputy secretary-level official, revealed that SREDA has proposed a drastic reduction in import duties for solar equipment. Currently ranging from 60% to a staggering 89%, the authority is urging the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to bring these rates down to a range of 10% to 15%.
“We want the cost of batteries to fall so that solar power generated during the day can be stored and utilised during the evening peak,” Rahman stated, noting that the NBR has been informed of the urgency.
Addressing the perennial debate over land scarcity, Rahman highlighted that the 2025 Renewable Energy Policy now prioritises “multi-functional land use.” This includes Agrivoltaics – where solar panels are elevated above crops and livestock – and floating solar on underutilised water bodies. “In Bangladesh, land is limited, so ensuring multiple uses from the same plot is the path forward,” he observed.
Muzibur Rahman also admitted that previous attempts to mandate rooftop solar failed due to a lack of effective monitoring. 
Under new proposals, net-metering will be used to verify actual generation, with Muzibur warning that “provisions for fines” are being considered for those who fail to maintain their systems. 
Despite the current energy crisis, he remains optimistic about surpassing the 20% renewable target by 2030 through these policy recalibrations.

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