Dec 8, 2025
| Staff Reporter
Bangladesh must pivot towards renewables to address climate threats and mounting economic pressures, experts said while calling for the swift adoption of a pragmatic and evidence-based National Energy Policy (NEP).
The call came at the closing session of the Third Bangladesh Energy Conference 2025 at the Bangladesh Military Museum in Dhaka on Monday.
They also placed a 13-point citizen’s manifesto on renewable energy and governance reforms at the session, chaired by Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
Urging political parties to steer the country toward a just and green energy transition, Moazzem said quality investment in renewables and transparency in public procurement are key for strengthening energy security and ensuring affordable power.
Energy experts at the session outlined the 13-point manifesto on energy policies in hopes that all political parties contesting the national elections will integrate the plan into their electoral commitments.
They believe that by adopting these strong commitments, it would mark a unified step towards a more sustainable and accountable energy future for the country.
The proposed actions aim to reshape Bangladesh’s energy landscape through transparency, renewable expansion, and long-term climate resilience.
Key demands include formulating a new NEP that makes it mandatory to consider climate risks when deciding economic priorities, and regular consultations with civil society.
The manifesto also calls for full transparency in energy contracts, including amendments to public procurement laws and legal recognition of citizen monitoring to curb irregularities.
To accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels, it proposes phasing out subsidies for coal, gas and oil, and ensuring that industries source at least 30 per cent of their energy requirement from renewables by 2030.
The 13-point demands also include a complete ban on new coal, gas or oil-fired power plants, along with the gradual decommissioning of the inefficient ones.
Additionally, the manifesto opposes the development of new LNG terminals, urging strict monitoring to prevent gas wastage, and to prioritise electrification across industries.
However, the energy experts set ambitious renewable energy targets – 30 per cent by 2030, 40 per cent by 2041, and 100 per cent by 2050 – with a call to allocate at least 40 percent of the national power budget to developing renewables.
They also recommend major tax reductions on electric vehicles and advanced batteries to speed the transition away from fossil fuels.
To modernise the power system, the manifesto proposes smart grid upgrades and subsidies for household and agricultural solar power installations.
It also sets a target of creating two million green jobs, with a focus on women and marginalised communities.
The document warns against investing in “false solutions”, such as ammonia co-firing and carbon capture, calling them expensive and uncertain.
Instead, it urges the expansion of domestic e-waste recycling industries to handle expired solar panels, batteries and inverters.
Other recommendations include ensuring equitable participation of vulnerable groups in all energy policymaking and protecting agricultural land through long-term leases and agrivoltaic projects.
Speakers emphasised that these policies should be adopted as binding commitments in election manifestos, framing the agenda as essential for ensuring energy security, affordability, and climate resilience in years ahead.
News Link: Bangladesh Energy Conference/Experts urge energy commitments in election campaigns