<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Seeking cooperation of International Solar Alliance (ISA), State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that the organisation can further contribute to promote widespread expansion of rooftop solar power.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He made the call when ISA Director General Dr. Ajay Mathur called on the state minister on Saturday. Various issues related to their mutual interests were discussed in the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Welcoming ISA director general, Nasrul Hamid said Bangladesh has a bright potential for renewable energy sources.</div><div><br></div><div>”But it is essential to reduce the cost of solar power by using modern technology to cover the land scarcity problem. Potential locations for floating solar must be selected judiciously”, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that solar power would be further expanded to the isolated islands across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>He offered to ISA to work together with Bangladesh to install solar power in Bhasanchar, a large island, where large solar projects could be implemented.</div><div><br></div><div>The ISA Director General of ISA informed the state minister about the issues and decisions of the first steering committee meeting of his organisation on March 2, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>He said 9 projects will be implemented by December 2024. Of which 6 projects will cost $541,000. He, however, said the estimated cost of the floating solar project has not been determined.</div><div><br></div><div>Among others, Nirod Chandra Mandal, Joint Secretary of Power Division and Ramesh Kumar Kuruppath, Head of Program and Project Implementation Unit of ISA were present during the meeting.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>