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“Energy Sector in the National Budget: Civil Society Perspectives” at a city restaurant, organised by CLEAN and the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development, with support from Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Bangladesh, and Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF).

The organisations said the SRO exempts solar panels, inverters, and batteries from duties and taxes until June 2031 but extends similar benefits for other key equipment -- including mounting structures, controllers, DC cables, and battery energy storage system components -- only until June 2028.

They argued that the shorter exemption period could discourage investment and slow the expansion of solar power projects.

The groups also questioned how the SRO was issued before the finance minister formally announced the tax exemptions in the budget speech on June 11.

While welcoming the removal of import duties, VAT, and advance income tax (AIT) on renewable energy equipment, particularly solar technologies, they said the restrictive conditions could prevent ordinary consumers from benefiting from the incentives.

The tax exemptions could reduce rooftop solar installation costs by 30 to 37 percent, making clean energy more affordable and helping Bangladesh achieve its target of installing 10,000 megawatts of solar power by 2030, they also said.

The speakers welcomed reduced duties, taxes, and registration fees on electric vehicles, saying the measure could help cut fossil-fuel consumption in the transport sector.

They, however, pointed to what they described as contradictory policy signals in the budget.

Although the finance minister identified liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports as a growing economic burden, tax exemptions on LNG imports remain in place, they said. The budget also continues incentives for coal imports and supports refinery expansion and other fossil-fuel infrastructure projects.

According to the organisations, only Tk 379.24 crore -- about 2.2 percent of the Tk 17,193 crore allocated for the power and energy sector -- has been earmarked for renewable energy in the FY2026-27 budget.

Research presented at the event estimated that Bangladesh would need at least Tk 21,750 crore annually to meet its renewable energy targets by 2030, including a minimum public investment of Tk 6,750 crore each year.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan of BELA said renewable energy targets must be backed by adequate funding and effective implementation.

Monowar Mostofa, networking adviser to CLEAN, also spoke.