Jan 20, 2026
| Staff Correspondent
Speakers at a discussion yesterday said political parties in Bangladesh must include clear commitments to ensure good governance in the power and energy sector in their election manifestos.
They identified two key priorities: ensuring transparency and accountability in all energy sector dealings and guaranteeing citizen participation in decision-making processes.
The recommendations were made at a roundtable titled “Just Energy Transition: Implementation on the Political Landscape of Bangladesh”, jointly organised by The Daily Star and Coastal Livelihood and Environment Action Network (CLEAN) at The Daily Star Centre.
In his opening remarks, Hasan Mehedi, member secretary of BWGED, said the upcoming elections present an opportunity for political parties to ensure climate justice and good governance in the energy sector, including for women, labour and indigenous communities.
Manower Mostafa, networking adviser at CLEAN, highlighted corruption and mismanagement in the energy sector over the last 16 years and called on political parties to outline clear plans for energy security in their election manifestos.
Abdullah Al Noman, executive director of Lawyers for Energy, Environment, and Development, said political parties must commit to ensuring community and stakeholder participation in energy policymaking, including effective parliamentary oversight.
Abul Kalam Azad, project coordinator at ActionAid Bangladesh, said, “We must create a comprehensive energy policy based on our country’s realities and communities, not old traditional models.”
Munir Uddin Shamim, director at Ethical Trading Initiative Bangladesh, called for transparency and fairness in public procurement, adding that a just energy transition could create jobs and reduce poverty. He urged political parties to reflect these opportunities in their election pledges.
Zahir Uddin Swapon, a member of the BNP Advisory Committee, said corruption persists despite the presence of technical expertise. He warned that energy security has become more critical than food security and that political action is essential to resolve the crisis.
Kazi Sajjad Zahir Chandan, president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh , said, “Thousands of crores of taka have been looted from the power sector.” He alleged that foreign companies have repeatedly been favoured over public interest. He called for a government that prioritises people’s needs and commits to protecting energy resources for public benefit.
Razequzzaman Ratan, joint general secretary of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh, said, “We are stuck with old projects that nobody wanted, which cost a lot but produce little.”
Navid Nowroz Shah, joint chief convenor of the National Citizen Party, said, “Our energy sector must prioritise the needs of ordinary citizens and ensure fairness, transparency and sustainability.”
Readus Salehen Jawad, central council member at Network for People’s Action, called for a just energy transition that protects both people and the environment.
Ashraful Alam, joint secretary general of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, said the government must ensure that energy transition meets people’s needs with zero tolerance for corruption, adding that a successful energy policy would lead to a prosperous Bangladesh with fair energy and resource distribution.
Aasha Mehreen Amin, joint editor at The Daily Star, called for a just and inclusive energy transition, saying the current energy system places a heavy financial and environmental burden on the country. “We are paying billions of dollars in capacity charges while the Bangladesh Power Development Board continues to incur significant losses,” she said, urging political parties to adopt realistic and time-bound energy plans that can be implemented effectively.
The event was moderated by Tanjim Ferdous, in-charge of NGOs and foreign missions at The Daily Star, and featured Manirul Islam, deputy director at BILS; Moushumi Yesmin, advocacy officer at Manusher Jonno Foundation; Mosleh Uddin Shuchok, energy lead at Reglobal; Benozir Ahmed, policy adviser at CLEAN; Bareesh Chowdhury of BELA; Shawkat Ara Begum of Tara Climate Foundation Bangladesh; and Faisal Azim and Ashraful Islam Raana of the Global Strategy Communication Council.