|| Rayhan Ahmed, Bureau Chief, Mymensingh: Environmental and development activists formed a human chain in Netrakona yesterday (28 July 2026) demanding increased investment in renewable energy and the installation of solar power systems in government buildings and public service infrastructure to promote clean energy at the local government level.The programme was held in front of the Challisha Union Parishad in Netrakona Sadar Upazila and was jointly organised by the Forum for Ecology and Development (FED), Netrakona, Onnochitra Foundation, the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), and the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development (BWGED). Environmental campaigners, development workers, local residents, and people from different walks of life took part in the event.Speaking at the programme, environmental activist Nazim Uddin said local government institutions should increase investment in renewable energy to address the growing impacts of climate change. Installing solar power systems in government offices, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and other public service establishments would not only reduce electricity costs but also contribute significantly to environmental protection, he said.Dilwar Khan, general secretary of the Forum for Ecology and Development (FED), Netrakona, said effective implementation of the country's net metering system would enable local government institutions to become producers of clean energy rather than remaining solely electricity consumers. Such initiatives, he added, would reduce pressure on the national power grid, lower dependence on fossil fuels, and create new employment opportunities at the local level.Rebeka Sultana, executive director of Onnochitra Foundation, said there is considerable potential for installing solar power systems at union parishad complexes, government buildings, educational institutions, healthcare centres, marketplaces, and other public facilities. Surplus electricity generated from these installations could be supplied to the national grid, creating an additional source of revenue for local government institutions, she said.The speakers urged the authorities to formulate a comprehensive "Solar City" or clean energy action plan, gradually bring suitable government facilities and public infrastructure under solar power coverage, and accelerate investment in renewable energy.They said investment in renewable energy should not be viewed as an expense but as a long-term investment that is economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and essential for achieving sustainable development.