The private sector should construct more green buildings in Dhaka and other major cities to help reduce consumption of energy and water, said Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain yesterday.

“Green buildings are necessary as they save power and water,” he said, while speaking at the opening ceremony of Bangladesh Infrastructure Innovation and Development Expo and Dialogue at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

Hossain said the government is building 6,600 flats under the third phase of Uttara Residential Model Town project.

All of these buildings will be environment-friendly and be a model for the private sector, he added.

“The construction of these buildings will be completed within four to five months,” said the minister, adding that the planned buildings will have solar panels and consume less power.

Exponent Exhibition has organised the three-day event in partnership with the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) and the Power Division.

Ninety energy and environment technology companies and service providers from Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia, South Korea, the US and Switzerland are showcasing their products.

Anwarul Islam Sikder, chairman of the SREDA, said, by 2040 the country would require 60,000 megawatts of power. So the government needs to plan accordingly.

He said the SREDA is in talks with the National Board of Revenue to reduce tax on power generation equipment so that Bangladesh can meet its growing demand for power at the lowest possible price.

Local entrepreneurs have already built about 200 green factories, experts said at the event.