Dhaka, Dec. 8 -- Pitched as a cornerstone of Bangladesh's clean-energy future, the interim government's rooftop solar drive is instead sputtering at take-off -- caught between rigid pricing, unresolved risks and investor unease that threatens to stall the programme before it properly begins.

The renewed push for rooftop solar power has drawn only muted interest from investors.

Despite extensions to tender deadlines in two phases, electricity distribution companies remain uncertain about how much response they will ultimately receive.

So muted has the response been that even after extending the tender deadlines twice, electricity distribution companies remain uncertain about how much participation they will ultimately attract.

Several ...