Nov 18, 2025
| Staff Reporter
Ahead of the parliamentary election, a coalition of leading civil society organisations has issued a comprehensive 12-point Citizens’ Manifesto, urging political parties to commit to a just, inclusive, and environmentally responsible energy transition that prioritises national sovereignty, public health, and long-term economic stability.
The manifesto was launched by the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development (BWGED), along with BELA, BILS, CLEAN, ETI Bangladesh, LEED, MJF, REGlobal, and several partner organisations working on transparency, climate justice, and sustainable development at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity in the capital on Tuesday.
The coalition warned that Bangladesh's energy sector is at a decisive crossroads, where decades of fossil fuel-heavy policies, costly contractual frameworks, and flawed planning have created deep financial vulnerabilities and escalating environmental risks.
Speaking at the event, Monower Mostafa, network adviser at CLEAN, highlighted the alarming surge in emissions and environmental deterioration. "Bangladesh's carbon emissions have doubled- from 146.8 million tonnes in 2008 to 281.4 million tonnes. Air quality has deteriorated to among the worst in the world, placing the nation near the bottom of global environmental performance rankings," he noted.
Panellist Hasan Mehedi, member secretary of BWGED, drew attention to the massive financial losses sustained under the current energy structure. He pointed out that private power producers collected Tk1.72 trillion in capacity charges over the past 16 years, while the Power Development Board accumulated losses of Tk2.53 trillion, forcing the government to inject Tk2.36 trillion in subsidies- funds that disproportionately benefited fossil fuel-linked vested interests.
Other panellists, including Wasiur Tonmoy of Manusher Jonno Foundation and Shimonuzzaman of LEED, stressed that Bangladesh must place people, equity, and community resilience at the heart of its national energy agenda.
The Citizens' Manifesto presented outlines sweeping reforms aimed at reducing fossil fuel dependence, expanding renewable energy, and empowering communities. It calls for a new National Energy Policy that aligns with climate resilience, stronger anti-corruption measures, a phased removal of fossil fuel subsidies, a halt to new coal and gas plants, and a rapid build-out of renewable energy infrastructure supported by fiscal incentives.
The coalition also advocates for a green transport transition, smart grid modernisation, renewable energy-driven job creation, and community ownership models that guarantee rights and benefits for women, farmers, fishers, indigenous people, and marginalised groups.
The document further rejects what it describes as "false climate solutions"-including ammonia co-firing, hydrogen imports, CCS, nuclear expansion, and waste-to-energy-arguing that these technologies increase long-term dependency and drain public resources.
Emphasising the urgency of political accountability, the coalition stated that Bangladesh can no longer afford policy inertia or governance systems susceptible to corruption. "Energy transition is not merely a technical undertaking- it is a profound question of justice, sovereignty, and the future we choose for the next generation," the coalition declared. It urged all political parties to incorporate clean, affordable, and community-owned energy systems at the core of their election commitments for 2026.
News link: CSOs urge political parties to embrace just energy transition