Demands to the political parties for a Just Transition in the Energy Sector Citizens’ Manifesto (English)

Bangladesh is standing at a crossroads in the energy and power sector. 99.25 percent of the country is under electricity coverage, while per capita electricity use increased from 220 kWh to 640 kWh in the last 16 years. At the same time, the risks of primary energy supply increased manifold. Since 2008, USD 18.5 billion has been paid to private power producers as capacity charges for installed power plants.

To pay for imported fossil fuel bills and capacity charges, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) incurred a loss of USD 27.23 billion over the last 16 years. To mitigate the losses, around USD 25.47 billion in incentives were paid to the BPDB from taxpayers' money. The incentives are finally pocketed by some energy investors, who allegedly launder them to other countries.

The nation's economy is under significant strain due to annual expenditures of USD 11.72 billion on fossil fuel imports. Growing reliance on imports not only jeopardises national energy security but also heavily depletes Forex reserves. Besides, this overdependence on fossil fuels has led to a near doubling of the country's emissions, from 146.8 million tons in 2008 to 281.4 MT in 2022.

The environmental situation has also been severely impacted. Bangladesh ranks alarmingly low on the Environmental Performance Index 2024, at 175th out of 180 nations globally. Dhaka is recognised as one of the world's cities with the poorest air quality and is listed among the top three unlivable cities. Government statistics indicate that fossil fuel power plants are causing 28% of the country's air pollution and 17% of total emissions. At least 13 labourers and villagers were killed in agitations and clashes related to land acquisition and labour standards at the Banshkhali, Payra, and Rampal Coal Power Plants. Similar allegations have also been raised against some solar power plants. To reverse the current trend, a clear political commitment and a practical action plan are essential. Simply increasing electricity generation is insufficient; rapid greening of the sector is critical for both economic progress and regional security. By prioritising the rapid expansion of RE, we can ensure our energy security. The extent of the change hinges upon the dedication demonstrated by the government and political parties. Before the forthcoming parliamentary election, all political parties and alliances are set to develop their respective Manifestos.

The Citizens' Manifesto, a 13-point set of demands, has been developed by Civil Society groups to draw attention to pressing issues within the energy and power sector. The core goal is to ensure that political parties incorporate energy transition into their Election Manifestos. Concurrently, we aim to assist these parties in long-term planning and provide input for their manifestos. This Citizens' Manifesto outlines a set of demands to lp the public grasp the critical issues impacting Bangladesh's energy and power sector and to serve as a guide for policymakers.