Dec 6, 2025
| Special Correspondent
Energy experts have called for an urgent revision of the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) to increase the share of renewable energy in Bangladesh's energy mix, during the 3rd Bangladesh Energy Conference 2025 in Dhaka.
The three-day conference, held from 6-8 December at the Bangladesh Military Museum, brought together policymakers, researchers, civil society representatives, and energy professionals to discuss the country's energy challenges, opportunities, and transition pathways.
The event was inaugurated by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, who emphasised that energy transition is a long-term process. "We have initiated multiple policies and programs to expand renewable energy, and these efforts are ongoing.
The priority should not just be setting targets but achieving them. In the past, ambitious targets were set, yet renewable electricity generation remained minimal. Therefore, a realistic and implementable roadmap is crucial," she said. Hasan also highlighted the government's ongoing rooftop solar installation program across all government buildings.
Professor Kazi Maruful Islam, Coordinator of the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development (BWGED), stressed the importance of keeping energy transition as a key electoral and policy priority.
Dr Khandakar Golam Moazzem, Research Director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said, "Effective energy transition requires technical knowledge, sound policies, and skilled human resources. Reducing reliance on foreign consultants and building domestic institutional capacity is now an urgent priority."
Experts highlighted financial and policy issues in the sector. Professor Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury, Chairman of the Centre for Renewable Energy Services Limited, noted that the government spends $4 billion annually on electricity subsidies, and reallocating even half to renewable energy could transform the sector. Transparency International Bangladesh's Iftekharuzzaman called for greater involvement of local experts, citing past policy malpractices and the limitations of foreign-prepared master plans.
Advocate Shimonuzzaman stressed legal transparency and public participation, while Banshree Mitra Niyogi from Manusher Jonno Foundation urged prioritising marginalised communities and women in the energy transition process.
Bangladesh has made notable progress since 2023, including halting approvals for new fossil-fuel-based power plants, offering 10-year tax exemptions for renewable energy, tendering 5,238 MW of solar projects, and adopting 3,000 MW of rooftop solar initiatives. Rising LNG imports, however, have increased foreign exchange costs, highlighting the urgency for a sustainable and locally driven energy roadmap.
Organised by BWGED in collaboration with 16 national partners, the conference plays a pivotal role in shaping policy, renewable energy investments, technological advancement, public engagement, and climate risk mitigation, Hasan remarked, underlining Bangladesh's commitment to a greener and equitable energy future.
News Link: Experts call for urgent revision of Energy Master Plan