To promote the use of renewable energy and build eco-friendly infrastructure, the Bangladesh Bridge Authority has approved the long-term lease of 120 acres of land in the Jamuna Bridge area for the construction of a 55-megawatt solar power plant.

This is considered an important step forward in clean energy production alongside the country's transport infrastructure.

The approval was granted on Monday afternoon (August 3) at the 117th board meeting of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, held in the conference room of the Bridge Division.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Board Chairman of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority Sheikh Rabiul Alam presided over the meeting. Board members participated both in person and virtually, sharing their opinions on various developmental proposals.

According to the board's decision, 120 acres of land at the Jamuna Bridge site will be leased to the North-West Power Generation Company Limited (NWPGCL).

A solar power plant with a generation capacity of 55 megawatts will be established there. Once implemented, the project is expected to increase electricity supply from renewable sources to the national grid and play a positive role in environmental conservation by reducing carbon emissions.

At the beginning of the meeting, Bridge Division Secretary and Executive Director of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority Mohammad Abdur Rouf presented the agenda and the implementation progress of previous board decisions via a PowerPoint presentation.

Later, board members reviewed various proposals and approved several key decisions, including the solar power project.

The meeting also approved a proposal to formulate an integrated master plan for the phased installation of solar panels across various facilities under the Bangladesh Bridge Authority. Officials believe this will further expand the use of renewable energy in the authority's infrastructure in the future.

Additionally, a decision was made to amend the existing policy for flat allocation in rehabilitation villages to make the resettlement of families affected by the Dhaka Elevated Expressway construction project more effective.

A decision was also adopted to reinstate the agreement regarding the operation of BIAM Laboratory School in Uttara Diabari and to establish the Center for Bridge Research and Training (CBRT) to develop skilled personnel in bridge construction, maintenance, and research.

Furthermore, to make welfare benefits for officers and employees more contemporary, approval was granted to replace the term "Annual Scholarship Provision" with "Annual Educational Grant Assistance" in the "Bangladesh Bridge Authority Officers and Employees Welfare Trust Rules, 2010."

In his presidential address, Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam stated that the current government is committed to sustainable development, the expansion of green energy, and the establishment of an eco-friendly transport system.

He remarked that increasing the use of renewable energy alongside infrastructure development is a demand of the time, and projects of this nature will play a vital role in achieving that objective.

The minister directed the concerned officials and authorities to implement all decisions adopted by the board promptly, transparently, and effectively with sincerity, accountability, and competence.

According to concerned circles, the implementation of this initiative to build a solar power plant in the Jamuna Bridge area will ensure the effective use of unused government land in line with the Prime Minister's directives, while also enhancing the country's clean energy production capacity, strengthening energy security, and contributing significantly to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).