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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chairs the ECNEC meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat
The government has moved to construct a 442-megawatt peak (MWp) grid-tied solar power plant in Rampal, Bagerhat, placing a Tk 2,498 crore project before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for formal approval. The initiative will be implemented by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) under the Power Division.
The proposal was tabled at an ECNEC meeting held at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday (October 7), presided over by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman. The meeting evaluated 13 development projects involving a total estimated outlay of Tk 16,207.55 crore.
Of the total expenditure for the Rampal solar project, Tk 374 crore will be sourced from BPDB’s own funds, while the remaining Tk 2,123 crore will be financed through the Power Sector Development Fund. The implementation timeline has been set between September 2026 and March 2029.
The installation requires no fresh land acquisition. In 2012, BPDB acquired 1,834 acres of land in Rampal for a coal-fired power hub, a portion of which currently hosts the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project developed by the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company. The solar farm will be established on the remaining "Block-B" section, where land development and boundary wall construction have already been completed.
Under the scope of work, solar modules with a minimum capacity of 640 Wp will be installed, paired with a 360 MW grid-tied inverter system and a pooling substation. To transmit generated electricity to the national grid, plans include erecting a 3-kilometer double-circuit 230 kV transmission line and setting up two 230 kV bays at the substation. The project also covers a three-story control building, staff dormitories, a rest house, a mosque, and the appointment of local consultants.
Project documents highlight that the plant will curb reliance on imported fossil fuels, expand the renewable energy mix, and reduce overall carbon emissions. In addition, the ECNEC agenda included a Tk 2,769 crore procurement plan for 30 meter-gauge diesel-electric locomotives to enhance Bangladesh Railway's capacity—financed via Tk 811.38 crore from state funds and a Tk 1,958.48 crore loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)—alongside infrastructure schemes across local government, shipping, foreign affairs, and road transport ministries.
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/national/1f1c20ea-6575-6cf0-b572-39e23f9c6a1a