ActionAid calls for policy reform for green energy transition in Bangladesh
ActionAid Bangladesh has called for urgent policy reforms and structural changes to accelerate a just and sustainable green energy transition in Bangladesh.
The call came during the inauguration session of the two-day "Renewable Energy Fest 2025," held on Wednesday (23 April) at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).
Jointly organised by ActionAid Bangladesh, Buet, and the Just Energy Transition Network Bangladesh (JETnet-BD), the festival brings together policymakers, youth, investors, and environmental experts to build a national roadmap toward renewable energy.
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At a special session titled "The Energy Awakening: Justice, Innovation, and Power to the People," Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, highlighted the urgency of expanding clean energy sources to meet the country's projected electricity demand of 58,410 megawatts by 2041.
"This festival brings together key stakeholders to lay the foundation for a coordinated national energy policy," she noted.
Addressing the event, Michal Krejza, head of Development Cooperation and Minister Counsellor of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, announced the EU's pledge of €1.3 billion. "We expect Bangladesh to increase renewable energy usage by more than 3%, reform its energy structure, and ensure democratic governance to achieve long-term sustainability," Krejza said.
Md Mahbubur Rahman, additional managing director and CFO of City Bank, urged the simplification of bureaucratic processes and better financing strategies to attract private investments.
Alamgir Morshed, CEO of Infrastructure Development Company Limited (Idcol), said, "Without reducing taxes and interest rates, expanding renewable energy is impossible. We must enact structural reforms and secure low-interest financing to ensure fair benefits."
Md Ziaul Haque, director of the Department of Environment, and Nayoka Martinez-Backstrom, First Secretary (Environment and Climate Change) at the Swedish Embassy, also shared insights on cross-border collaboration and environmental governance.
In the closing speech of the inaugural ceremony, Professor Abu Borhan Mohammad Badruzzaman, Vice-Chancellor of Buet, underscored the importance of research and academic involvement in shaping future energy strategies.
The fest reaffirmed Bangladesh's national target of achieving 15% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% by 2050. Over a hundred representatives from civil society organisations, international development agencies, academia, and the media participated in the event.
Key recommendations from the sessions will be compiled and presented to policymakers, with the aim of influencing the development of a comprehensive national energy transition policy.
The fest continues with workshops, exhibitions, and policy dialogues focused on innovation, financing, and youth engagement in the green energy sector.
