Dhaka, Sept. 9 -- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said the government plans to gradually replace diesel-powered irrigation pumps with solar-powered system across the country within the next five years.

Replying to a supplementary question from Meherpur-1 MP Md Tajuddin Khan during the Prime Minister's question-answer session in Parliament, Tarique said all diesel-powered water pumps would be brought under the solar power programme in phases.

"Yes, the current government has this plan. Wherever water pumps are operated by diesel, we will gradually shift all of them to solar power within the next five years, Inshallah," he said.

Tarique was responding to a question on whether the government planned to provide farmers with sola...