Solar power

A front page report covering over forty column-inch was published in a
local English daily on 11th April on the subject. It deserves national attention and urgent action by the government; if it is really serious to go ahead to provide more power within the next two years (by December
2012).
The government should encourage solar power units in all homes in rural and urban areas of individuals, private enterprises and NGOs in a massive way. Solar Voltic Panels must be allowed to be imported without any duty, other taxes or VAT. The same liberal import policy should be adopted for importing photo-voltic laminated window glass panes for high-rise buildings in urban areas. This is now available in the USA.
The same steps are needed to bring down the price of storage batteries (imported or locally made) by eliminating the duty component for purchase of imported batteries, or the materials and components needed to be imported for manufacturing it locally. The storage battery is an integral part of the solar power units.
Additionally, special easy term financing should be provided by public and private banks to anyone who imports the solar power units and its components on easy terms; both for rural and urban areas.
By adopting these realistic proposals outlined above, household, commercial and small cottage industry's power supply needs in both rural and urban areas can soon be easily met. This will be equivalent to providing say one 800 to 1000MW power plant in Bangladesh, within two years at most! Additionally it will reduce foreign exchange needed for the import of Kerosene, which is mostly used for household lighting in villages and many small towns in any case.
Implementing these suggestions and prompt and positive government action brook no delay, and an important election pledge will be met without any direct government financing through loans and aid; and at a much shorter time frame, than setting up one or more power plants!