A health worker administers polio drops to a child on the first day of a nationwide polio vaccination campaign, in Karachi on February 3, 2025. — AFP
Two new polio cases detected in KP and Sindh.
Girls aged 6 years and 21 months latest victims.
Vaccine drive begins on Sept 1 in 99 districts.
The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, has confirmed two new cases of polio, one from district Kohistan Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the other from district Badin, Sindh.
The latest cases involve a 72-month-old girl from Union Council Pattan in district Kohistan Lower and a 21-month-old girl from Union Council Matli-2 in district Badin. With these detections, the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 has reached 21 – including 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, six from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection is through repeated doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for every child under five during each campaign, alongside timely completion of all routine immunisations.
Despite significant progress, the continued detection of polio cases shows that children remain at risk in areas with low vaccine acceptance.
From September 1 to 7, 2025, a Sub-National Polio Vaccination Campaign will take place, targeting more than 28 million children under the age of five in 99 districts across all provinces and regions.
The Campaign in Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be conducted from September 15. The goal is to ensure every child in these districts receives the vaccine to protect them from the lifelong consequences of polio.
This campaign is part of ongoing efforts to quickly strengthen immunity among children and close existing protection gaps. Parents and caregivers are strongly urged to ensure their children receive the polio vaccine during this and every campaign.
Polio eradication is a shared responsibility. While frontline health workers continue to deliver critical vaccines to children, parents and caregivers play an important role by ensuring their children receive all recommended doses of the polio vaccine and complete their routine immunisations. Communities can protect their children by actively supporting vaccination efforts, countering misinformation, and encouraging others to vaccinate.
9pm, BBC One More than 20 years ago, Ozzy Osbourne and his family changed TV for ever with their fly-on-the-wall reality series. A reboot – Home to Roost – was announced back in 2022 and the cameras followed the gang again for three years. But Ozzy’s health continued to decline and, just days after a defiant final homecoming concert with Black Sabbath last month, the Prince of Darkness died aged 76. The footage has been reworked as a one-hour documentary and is a special ode to the last chapter in the icon’s life, as he moves back to England with the family, battles illness and readies for a performance that will go down in history as the greatest goodbye in rock’n’roll. Hollie Richardson
Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy
9pm, ITV1 This documentary – updated since it aired in the US earlier this year – has the latest details in the case of the Friends actor’s death by ketamine overdose (five people have been charged in connection: three have pleaded guilty; two deny all allegations). It only scratches the surface of telling Perry’s story before the tragedy, but his onscreen mother, Morgan Fairchild, shares her memories, while the Hollywood Reporter’s Deborah Walker paints a picture of the world of fame in which he struggled. HR
Fake Or Fortune?
8pm, BBC One If you’ve ever wished that Antiques Roadshow was 500% more stressful, Fiona Bruce’s other gig might appeal. This revisited episode is about a painting bought for £2,000 – and valued at £300,000. But what did the lucky owner of an original Helen McNicoll do when the cameras stopped rolling? Hannah J Davies
Michael Mosley: Secrets of the Superagers
8pm, Channel 4
Michael Mosley: Secrets of the Superagers. Photograph: BBC Studios 2022
It’s tragically ironic in the light of his early death in 2024. But what turned out to be the final series filmed by Dr Michael Mosley concerned the various ways human beings attempt to face down the chaos of existence and prolong their lives. As ever, Mosley gets practically involved, undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy in this closing episode. Phil Harrison
University Challenge
8.30pm, BBC Two It is still only the first round of the 2025/26 competition, but the rivalry is intensified by a Severnside derby, as Cardiff University takes on the University of Bristol. In the quizshow’s 62-year history, neither university has ever fielded a winning team, but Bristol did nab the runners-up spot in 2023, making it a firm favourite to win this tie. Ellen E Jones
Confessions of a Brain Surgeon
9pm, BBC Two A remarkable film in which retired brain surgeon Henry Marsh looks at his 40-year career after receiving a cancer diagnosis. From his pioneering work to the “critical mistakes” that still haunt him, he has frank conversations with his ex-wife, former colleagues, and patients and their families. HR
It’s a steal … Michael Madsen as Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs. Photograph: Landmark Media/Alamy
As a tribute to the late Michael Madsen, you could do worse than Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 debut. He certainly steals the film as the psychotic Mr Blonde, with his dance/torture routine to the strains of Stuck in the Middle With You. But there’s a lot more to recommend it, from the smart if expletive-filled dialogue to the rug-pulling flashback plot structure, as a gang of robbers – including Harvey Keitel and Tim Roth – assemble after a botched diamond heist to work out who is the mole in their midst. Simon Wardell
Planaria are harmless worms found in ponds and rivers
Tiny worms found in ponds and rivers could be instrumental in treating mental illness, a study has suggested.
Research at the University of Reading has found the worms react to brain medicines in a similar way to rodents.
It means they could be used in place of rats and mice, which would involve fewer ethical concerns.
Prof Vitaliy Khutoryanskiy, who led the study, said the findings were good for both science and animal welfare.
Range of uses
Previous studies have used the worms – known as planaria – to research epilepsy treatments and to investigate drug addiction, as the flatworms exhibit signs of withdrawal symptoms.
This new study, published on Friday in the journal Pharmaceutical Research, found they become less active when given haloperidol, a drug used to treat mental health conditions – just like rodents.
The drug works by calming overactive brain activity in people whose minds are working too fast or in confusing ways, and scientists often test this medicine on animals to understand how it affects the brain and develop better treatments for patients.
The new research suggests the worms could be used instead, which could help develop treatments for mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and hallucinations, the University said.
The worms could also be used to test different ways of making medicines.
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Almost a million rodents are used in scientific research every year
The planaria research has already influenced teaching at the University of Reading, where the haloperidol effect on worms is now part of undergraduate pharmacology classes.
“This finding adds to growing evidence that tiny flatworms like planaria could play a valuable role in how we study the brain,” said Prof Khutoryanskiy.
“Close to a million mice and rats are used in UK research each year, but using planaria instead could potentially cut those numbers and still give us the answers we need to develop better treatments for people with serious mental health conditions. “
Annetta Stanley said she was worried she would not be able to pay her mother’s medical bills
A retired accountant said she was left in tears after spending six months trying to get her elderly mother’s private pension paid.
Mervis Stanley had previously been receiving a widow’s pension from her husband George’s time working at Gillette in Reading.
But the 87-year-old had not received any money since June 2024 and was not given a reason why by pension administrators Aon, her daughter Annetta Stanley claimed.
After being contacted by the BBC, Aon said it would start paying Mrs Stanley’s pension again, plus the money she was owed.
“The experience has left me in tears,” Annetta said.
“I’m fighting really hard on behalf of my mother but I’m really worried about the impact that not having the pension is having on her. “
Listen on BBC Sounds: George and Annetta came to the UK as part of the Windrush generation
Ms Stanley’s father George came to the UK in the early 1960s as part of the Windrush generation that relocated to fill post-war labour shortages and rebuild Britain’s economy.
His wife, Mervis, and daughter, Annetta, followed a year later and the family lived in Birmingham before moving to Reading, where George worked in the Gillette factory.
The couple retired to Jamaica in 1995 and George’s work pension passed to his wife after his death in 2006.
Monthly payments of about £500 went to his widow for 19 years but, after Aon took over as administrators of the scheme in 2024, the money stopped, said Ms Stanley, from Herefordshire.
“My father worked really hard for that money so I feel very cross that someone can just stop it and not give me an explanation why,” she said.
“My parents came to the UK to help rebuild the economy. It’s appalling that we’ve been treated this way.”
Annetta Stanley
Mervis and George married in Jamaica before moving to the UK
Ms Stanley, who has power of attorney for her mother and deals with all her financial affairs, said she had contacted Aon dozens of times by phone, email and letter since February, to establish why her mum’s pension was stopped.
“I’m currently paying her bills from her state pension but if I need to take her to the hospital, the money isn’t there,” she said.
“She’s an elderly woman with health issues who relies on carers to assist her with her daily tasks.
“It’s stopping her carers from doing what they can for her because they realise that money is short.
“She likes going out but she’s stuck in her house. “
Annetta Stanley
Mervis Stanley moved back to Jamaica after 40 years of working in the UK
A spokesperson for Aon said “some of the paperwork it had received was not legally acceptable in the UK” and the company was waiting for some more information to be able to resolve the situation.
They said they could not comment on individual cases but it was crucial to verify contact details to ensure that an individual had not died.
Their statement added that its priority was “to pay the correct pension, to the correct recipient, at the correct time and we apologise for any distress to a member (or their family) where we are unable to do so”.
The company added that payments could be paused if items of post were returned unopened and that this was usual practice amongst UK pension schemes, designed to protect members and make sure that the correct people received benefits.
Months of frustration
Ms Stanley said her mum had not received any post from Aon.
“Her carers have regularly checked at the post office. She’s received letters about her state pension but nothing from Aon,” she said.
The 68-year-old said nobody from the company had apologised to her or her mother.
“They haven’t spoken to me in six months so I’m not expecting them to ring and apologise,” she said.
“It’s so frustrating, I came to the BBC for help because there didn’t seem to be anyone else who could help me. Things wouldn’t have progressed if I hadn’t.
“I worry that the same thing could be happening to other people. I’ve worked in finance for 40 years, so I knew what to do, but it’s been a difficult fight.”
A spokesperson for Aon said, after the BBC contacted them about Mrs Stanley’s case, that, after receiving some more information, they have reinstated her pension and the company had arranged for her to be paid the money she was owed.
Andy Evans is now working for a sight loss support charity
A man who has returned to work a year after being registered blind says new AI glasses have been “life-changing”.
Andy Evans, 57, who lives in Larkhall near Bath, became unemployed after leaving his job working nights at a Morrison’s supermarket due to his sight loss.
However, he says he now has a “much better quality of life” since buying the glasses, which have a camera in their frame and tiny speakers in the arms.
Mr Evans, who uses a white cane, said he can order food in a restaurant again and find out “what obstacles are in the path in front of me” by asking his glasses.
The Ray-Ban glasses by Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, are voice-activated, and the user can talk to their built-in artificial intelligence technology to perform tasks.
In the UK, a selection of celebrity voices can be chosen to speak to those who wear the glasses. Mr Evans said he has Dame Judi Dench, who he said calls him James Bond and 007.
He has now returned to work, helping people adjust to sight loss at the Sight Support West of England charity.
“I was really stuck doing a lot of things,” he told BBC Radio Bristol.
“What you can do, you can ask them to look and tell you what’s going on around you. It’s life-changing technology.”
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The glasses have a tiny camera built in, along with speakers and technology which speaks back to the user
Robin Spinks, head of inclusive design at the Royal National Institute of Blind People, said the glasses are an example of technology making “a real tangible impact for blind and partially sighted people”.
Mr Spinks is also registered blind and said: “I use these glasses every day. Getting a description of a room or a scene on the beach or even a zoo enclosure is quite transformational.
“AI is advancing rapidly, and the market for smart glasses is still in its infancy. But the potential is enormous.”
Oil majors are betting big on liquified natural gas (LNG), throwing down the gauntlet to predictions of peak gas by the end of the decade. Britain’s Shell , a leading player in the global LNG market, has identified the super-cooled commodity as a primary focus amid the energy transition. France’s TotalEnergies said it expects LNG volumes managed by the company to grow by 50% between 2023 and 2030, while BP , which recently doubled down on fossil fuels as part of a green strategy U-turn , has significant LNG investments. Stateside, Exxon Mobil is seeking to double its LNG portfolio by 2030, Chevron has been expanding existing LNG projects and developing new facilities, while Baker Hughes recently said it would buy Chart Industries for $13.6 billion as part of a move to increase its LNG exposure. Big Oil’s LNG push comes as the industry seeks to capitalize on growing global demand and as major players look to diversify their portfolios. Energy analysts, however, have raised some concerns. The bottom line is it is a very risky bet — and a bet against the energy transition. Electricity and data analyst at Ember Euan Graham LNG is derived from natural gas, a fossil fuel, although it is often presented as a cleaner alternative to other fossil fuels, like coal and oil. Critics argue that LNG can’t be considered a viable ” bridge fuel ” due to concerns over its environmental impact, particularly regarding methane leaks in the supply chain. Speaking to CNBC during earnings season, Shell CEO Wael Sawan said the company will need to keep an open mind through the energy transition, noting that this shift “will not be linear.” Sawan singled out LNG as one “much sought-after energy form” that will play an integral role in the firm’s long-term strategy, alongside plans to build out some of its low carbon projects. “But to the heart of your question, where can Shell predominantly play, I’d say first and foremost it’s in LNG,” Sawan told CNBC’s ” Squawk Box Europe ” on July 31. “Here is a versatile fuel that is able today to respond to droughts a few years ago in Brazil, respond to the needs of Europe after the Russia invasion of Ukraine, respond to the needs of Asia when you have a hot summer or a very cold winter — and one that is going to grow by 60% between now and 2040.” Shell’s bullish LNG outlook largely stems from projected economic growth in Asia, which represents the biggest market for LNG, emissions reductions in heavy industry and transport and the impact of an artificial intelligence boom . The LNG demand forecast, however, jars with expectations from the International Energy Agency. ‘Something has to give’ The world’s leading global energy watchdog said recently that global demand is expected to pick up next year, following a slowdown in 2025, as more supply comes to market. Yet the IEA still expects gas demand to plateau, or peak, by the end of the decade. As clean energy sources rapidly gain prominence , the Paris-based agency has previously warned that “something has to give” in the LNG market. The IEA said in its World Energy Outlook 2024 that amid an increase of nearly 50% in global export capacity, led by the U.S. and Qatar, the prices that many suppliers will need to recover their investments may not encourage low-income economies to switch to natural gas at scale. The IEA has upwardly revised its forecast for LNG, saying that it expects demand to grow at 2.5% per year through to 2035 under a scenario of announced energy and climate policies. That’s faster than the overall rise in gas demand but it says an LNG supply glut could be exacerbated by an accelerated energy transition. “The bottom line is it is a very risky bet — and a bet against the energy transition,” Euan Graham, electricity and data analyst at energy think tank Ember, told CNBC by telephone. The rapid rise of solar power , in particular, appears to be undercutting global LNG demand, Graham said, noting that the scale of renewables growth has “completely changed the game.” “Geopolitical tensions have also laid bare the risks of relying on fossil fuels, with some countries in Asia uniquely exposed,” Graham said. For several Asian countries, elevated geopolitical risk around the Strait of Hormuz has raised concerns about the potential for oil and gas supply disruptions. The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, is recognized as one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints. Japan, South Korea, China and India are all known to be vulnerable to potential LNG supply shocks from the waterway. Capital discipline “Big Oil is trying to increase their exposure to LNG, so to talk about an LNG push is correct. We need, however, to diversity slightly among the oil majors,” Maurizio Carulli, energy and materials analyst at wealth manager Quilter Cheviot, told CNBC by telephone. For Shell, Carulli said the focus on LNG represents a “natural continuation” of a business it effectively created from scratch several decades ago, thus providing the London-listed firm with a “competitive advantage” over its industry peers. TotalEnergies is another major player in this space, Carulli said, while the likes of Exxon Mobil and Chevron in the U.S. also have significant LNG market share — albeit below that of their European peers. Read more Why Europe is pivoting back to nuclear — one of its most divisive energy sources Like defense, Goldman says ESG investors should bring oil and gas stocks in from the cold Mining giant Fortescue says Big Oil is getting it wrong: ‘Your customers want green energy’ Given LNG projects can run for 30 or 40 years, Carulli said energy majors need to make sure that any bets on facilities coming online today will still be profitable even if demand growth slows from around 2040. “This is where oil companies need to be very careful,” Carulli said. He added, however, that the process of capital budgeting among energy supermajors for large LNG operations “is very disciplined indeed. And therefore they make sure that these projects are profitable and competitive with respect to other fuels, also in the event that demand for LNG after 2040 may decline.”
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has significantly contributed to Pakistan’s infrastructure and energy development. However, amid escalating global climate crisis marked by floods, heat waves, water scarcity, air pollution there is growing pressure on developing countries like Pakistan to adopt sustainable development pathways. This is where the concept of a green economy becomes relevant —it is defined as a low —carbon, resource-efficient, and socially inclusive economic model that aims to enhance human well-being and social equity while minimizing environmental risks and ecological degradation.[1]
George Atwell wants other farmers to know support is out there after seeking help several years ago
A farmer who struggled with depression after his parents died within two years of each other has urged others to seek help.
George Atwell, from North Somerset, said things “got too much” after he had to step over his dad’s body to go to work in 2016, and his mum then died in 2018.
“My father passed away in the farmhouse, in the kitchen,” he said. “We had calves out in the shed that needed to be fed; I was walking over my father to go to feed the cattle. There’s no other industry that would be doing that.”
Mr Atwell said he wanted others to know “it’s OK not to be OK” after he was supported by the Farming Community Network (FCN), which sent a farmer to help him daily for two months.
Data from the Farm Safety Foundation suggests 95% of young farmers believe mental health is the biggest issue facing the industry.
“The industry faces many stress factors, which are placing increasing pressure on workers and putting them at greater risk of mental ill health,” the foundation said.
“These include extended amounts of time working in isolation, a blurring between work and home life, and financial uncertainty.”
Mr Atwell said he went through a rough patch shortly before the pandemic, when the loss of his parents caught up with him.
Despite the heartbreak he had experienced, he said he needed to get on with farming, which is “full of problems” to deal with, such as “the weather, animals dying, making animals better”.
Mr Atwell said it had been reaching the point where he was unable to sleep.
“I was trying to do everything, be ‘the big I am’,” he said.
“I was terrified to leave the farm, I had hot sweats.”
George Atwell
Mr Atwell lost his parents, John and Betty, within two years of each other
Mr Atwell’s wife could see something was not right and he went to the doctor for medication to help him with his mental health.
“I didn’t feel normal but, thanks to the support of the farming community, the local farmer that was coming to see me everyday, I managed to turn it around,” Mr Atwell said.
“It’s OK not to be OK and hopefully others can take something from what I’m saying.”
‘Here to help’
Alex Phillimore, head of communications and development at FCN, said the group arranges farm visits to talk to farmers and families and “act as a neutral third party”.
“FCN is here 365 days of the year to listen, to support and to ‘walk with’ our farming community through any concerns or worries, whether they are personal or business-related,” he said.
“Our wide network of volunteers understand farming life and its unique pressures and are here to help you find a way forward.”
Gold price stages a solid bounce from over a two-week low touched earlier this Monday. Retreating US bond yields and Fed rate cut bets benefit the non-yielding yellow metal. A modest USD uptick and a positive risk tone might cap further gains for the commodity.
Gold (XAU/USD) clings to modest gains through the early part of the European session on Monday, though the lack of follow-through buying warrants caution before positioning for an extension of the intraday bounce from over a two-week low. Investors turn cautious ahead of US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European leaders to discuss a peace deal with Russia. This, along with the growing acceptance that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will resume its rate-cutting cycle in September and sliding US Treasury bond yields, underpins the non-yielding yellow metal.
Meanwhile, traders have scaled back their bets for a more aggressive policy easing by the Fed. This assists the US Dollar (USD) in attracting some buyers at the start of a new week and acts as a headwind for the Gold price. Apart from this, the upbeat market mood further contributes to capping the upside for the safe-haven commodity. Traders also seem reluctant and opt to wait for more cues about the Fed’s rate-cut path. Hence, the focus remains on the FOMC meeting Minutes on Wednesday. This will be followed by Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole Symposium and provide some meaningful impetus to the XAU/USD pair.
Daily Digest Market Movers: Gold price benefits from safe-haven buying ahead of Trump-Zelenskyy meeting
Traders now seem convinced that the US Federal Reserve will lower borrowing costs at its September meeting. Moreover, the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool indicates the possibility of at least two 25-basis-point Fed rate cuts by the end of this year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet US President Donald Trump for bilateral talks on Monday. Later, the key European leaders will be joining a larger conversation to discuss a peace deal to end Europe’s deadliest war in 80 years.
Data released last Thursday showed that US producer prices rose in July at the fastest monthly pace since 2022 and tempered bets for a jumbo 50 bps interest rate cut by the Fed. This assists the US Dollar in attracting some buyers at the start of a new week.
Meanwhile, the preliminary data from the University of Michigan showed that the one-year inflation expectations climbed to 4.9% from 4.5% and the five-year forecast increased to 3.9% from 3.4%, indicating a gain of momentum in price pressures.
Additional details showed that the US Consumer Sentiment Index unexpectedly dropped to 58.6 in August from 61.7 in the previous month, signalling a poor backdrop in public confidence. Moreover, the Expectations Index eased to 57.2 from 57.7.
Earlier, the US Census Bureau reported on Friday that the US Retail Sales increased by 0.5% on a monthly basis in July. This followed the 0.9% rise (revised up from 0.6%) recorded in the previous month and matched consensus estimates.
Traders now look forward to the release of the FOMC meeting Minutes on Wednesday and Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole Symposium during the latter part of the week for more cues about the near-term rate-cut path.
Apart from this, geopolitical developments will play a key role in influencing demand for traditional safe-haven assets and provide some meaningful impetus to the Gold price.
Gold constructive setup backs the case for a move towards the $3,375 resistance zone
An intraday bounce from the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level of the upswing from the July monthly low and a subsequent move beyond the 200-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) on the 4-hour chart favor the XAU/USD bulls. Moreover, oscillators on the said chart have again started gaining positive traction and back the case for a further intraday appreciating move. Some follow-through buying beyond the $3,355 area, or the 50% retracement level, will reaffirm the positive outlook and lift the Gold price to the next relevant hurdle near the $3,372-3,374 region, or the 23.6% Fibo. retracement level. The momentum could extend further and allow the commodity to reclaim the $3,400 mark before aiming to test the monthly peak, around the $3,408-3,410 area.
On the flip side, the 200-SMA on H4, around the $3,346 region, now seems to protect the immediate downside ahead of the $3,324-3,323 zone, or the 61.8% Fibo. retracement level. Failure to defend the said support levels could make the Gold price vulnerable to weaken further towards the $3,300 round figure en route to the $3,283-3,282 horizontal zone and the $3,268 region, or the late June swing low.
Fed FAQs
Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these goals is by adjusting interest rates.
When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, it raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs throughout the economy. This results in a stronger US Dollar (USD) as it makes the US a more attractive place for international investors to park their money.
When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates to encourage borrowing, which weighs on the Greenback.
The Federal Reserve (Fed) holds eight policy meetings a year, where the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) assesses economic conditions and makes monetary policy decisions.
The FOMC is attended by twelve Fed officials – the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining eleven regional Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis.
In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve may resort to a policy named Quantitative Easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system.
It is a non-standard policy measure used during crises or when inflation is extremely low. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy high grade bonds from financial institutions. QE usually weakens the US Dollar.
Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process of QE, whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing, to purchase new bonds. It is usually positive for the value of the US Dollar.
Bangladesh is struggling to boost renewable energy capacity amid the energy crisis and spiralling power tariffs. However, the Bangladesh government recently unveiled an ambitious plan to install new rooftop solar capacity of 3,000 megawatts (MW) by December 2025, after more than 15 years of lacklustre growth in the sector. The decision came on the back of a new Renewable Energy Policy approved on 16 June 2025 to achieve 30% renewable energy by 2040. The new programme proposes using public funds for rooftop solar in government offices under the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) model. Further, it aims to encourage Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) companies to invest in rooftop solar projects in hospitals, and educational and religious institutions under the Operational Expenditure (OPEX) model.
The government also acknowledged the country’s modest share of renewable energy in its power mix compared to its neighbours—India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. On an installed capacity basis, Bangladesh’s share of renewable energy in its power sector is around 5% as opposed to Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan’s contribution of 63%, 48% and 47% respectively (see Figure 1). Even rooftop solar accounts for a significant part of the three countries’ renewable energy capacities in contrast to the tepid progress in Bangladesh.
While rooftop solar remains a low-hanging fruit for Bangladesh with attractive return on investment, the country should address existing challenges, such as quality issues and lack of monitoring, that have deterred its wider adoption. Bangladesh can draw on the experience of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as it prepares to implement its rooftop solar programme.
