Jan 18, 2026
| Staff Report
Civil society organisations have strongly objected to the interim government’s 25-year “Energy & Power Sector Master Plan (EPSMP): 2026-2050”.
At a press conference held on Sunday at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium, speakers demanded the immediate suspension and complete cancellation of the EPSMP.
They argued that the plan was formulated without democratic process, transparency, or public participation, and warned that it poses serious risks to the country’s energy security, economy, and environment.
The press conference was organised by the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development (BWGED), with co-organisers including the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), Amrai Agami, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Center for Environment and Participatory Research (CEPR), Ethical Trading Initiative Bangladesh (ETI Bangladesh), Jet-Net BD, Lawyers for Energy, Environment and Development (LEED), Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), Re-Global, Sohard Youth Foundation, Safety and Rights (SRS), Waterkeepers, and the worker-led Climate Action Network (Worker CAN).
Delivering the keynote, CLEAN’s Network Adviser Monowar Mostafa said the interim government’s responsibility was to ensure routine state administration.
Instead, it has overstepped its mandate by initiating a long-term, multi-dimensional, and high-risk energy plan.
He alleged that despite directives from the High Court, no meaningful participatory consultation process was followed. Mostafa further noted that, similar to the controversial projects previously approved under the Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provisions) Act, EPSMP creates a framework to legitimise future fossil fuel–dependent projects.
He argued that the country’s actual electricity demand should not exceed 40,000 MW, yet the plan has inflated the figure unjustifiably. This, he warned, would lead to unnecessary generation capacity and impose additional financial burdens on citizens through capacity charges. He added that although the plan refers to “energy transition,” in reality, the share of genuine renewable energy is only 17 per cent, while on paper it is shown as 44 per cent.
The plan proposes increasing gas-based power generation capacity from 15.8 GW to 25.2 GW, while maintaining nearly 50 per cent dependence on LNG, coal, and oil until 2050. This would create an import burden of around USD 192 billion, posing grave risks to the economy, foreign currency reserves, and energy security.
BWGED Member Secretary Hasan Mehedi said the draft plan completely ignored the public, civil society, and independent experts. He criticised attempts to finalise such a critical national policy document without public hearings or open consultations, calling it a repetition of the opaque policymaking of previous governments.
LEED’s Research Director, Shimonuzzaman, described the move to introduce another controversial master plan, similar to IEPMMP 2023, just before elections as deeply disappointing. ETI Bangladesh’s Director (Program Evidence and Learning) Munir Uddin Shamim said the plan violates citizens’ constitutional rights and, if implemented, would put the export sector at serious risk.
Other speakers included Jet-Net BD Manager Abul Kalam Azad, MJF Coordinator Wasiur Rahman Tanmoy, and Waterkeepers Manager Syed Tapas.
The press conference put forward five demands: immediate suspension and cancellation of EPSMP 2025; initiation of a transparent national consultation process with civil society and public participation; rapid reduction of fossil fuel dependence; formulation of a realistic roadmap for 100 per cent renewable energy; and adoption of a new inclusive energy and power master plan under the newly elected government.
Speakers warned that if the draft plan is implemented, citizens will face decades of high electricity prices, increased taxes and subsidies, along with irreversible environmental damage.
News Link: Strong demand for cancellation of draft energy–power master plan