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DHAKA, March 11, 2024 (BSS) - Prime Minister's Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Affairs Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury today underscored the need for increasing the use of solar irrigation pump as per specific plan.

He said this while addressing as the chief guest a discussion arranged by Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority' (SREDA) in the capital.

Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi stressed on taking up initiative for implementation of the pledged financing from the Loss and Damage Fund launched in the COP-28.

After the Eid, a committee will be constituted from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) as an effective role can be played in reaching the desired goal, he said.

Speaking on the occasion as the guest of honor, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said united efforts are needed for the expansion of solar irrigation pump.

If the use of diesel-run pump can be reduced, emission of carbon dioxide will also cut down and it will help conserve the environment side by side with saving a large amount of foreign exchange, he said.

At present 12.43 lakh diesel-run pump are in use in Bangladesh and it is big challenge to replace the diesel-run pump by solar irrigation pump, said Nasrul Hamid.

"That is why we will have to go forward with specific plan," he said.
 
Power Division Senior Secretary Md. Habibur Rahman, Rural Development and Cooperative Division Senior Secretary Mosammat Hamida Begum, SREDA Chairman Munira Sultana, BADC Chairman Abdullah Sazzad, Bangladesh Power Development Board Chairman Engineer Md Mahbubur Rahman, Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) Chairman Ajay Kumar Chakraborty, Department of Agricultural Extension Director General Badal Chandra Biswas and Power Cell Director General Mohammad Hossain were present.