Renewable Energy: Not an alternative, but a necessity

Bangladesh's energy sector remains largely dependent on fossil fuels, with renewable energy contributing only 2.94% to the total energy mix.

Against this backdrop, building an environmentally sustainable and resilient energy system by harnessing renewable potential is both urgent and essential. Bangladesh can generate solar and wind energy using its natural resources. Realising this potential will require a collaborative approach, robust policies, and active youth engagement.

Energy and environment experts called for this action during the Renewable Energy Fest 2025, jointly organised by ActionAid Bangladesh, BUET, and the Just Energy Transition Network Bangladesh (JETnet-BD).

The closing ceremony was moderated by Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, with Mohammad Wahid Hossain, Chairman (Senior Secretary) of BIPRC, attending as Chief Guest. Special guests included Dr Abdul Hasib Chowdhury, Pro-Vice Chancellor of BUET; Taif Hossain, Programme Manager for Transport and Energy at the EU Delegation to Bangladesh; and Ibrahim Khalil Al-Zayad, Chairperson of AAIBS. The welcome address was delivered by Professor Dr M. A. A. Shoukat Choudhury from BUET's Department of Chemical Engineering.

The Chief Guest, Mohammad Wahid Hossain, NDC, emphasised the need for collective action to transition to sustainable energy. He stated, "We must turn to renewable energy out of our need, not due to external pressure. Over the past 15 years, our focus has remained confined to mega projects, with no significant progress in renewable energy development. Historically, we bear minimal responsibility for global warming, yet we must now move forward with a planned shift towards sustainable renewable energy."

Taif Hossain of the EU Delegation noted, "To make our energy sector more efficient, green energy must be prioritised. The EU has allocated €1.3 billion for Bangladesh in the energy sector. However, this allocation has not been fully realised due to a lack of sustainable infrastructure in the energy sector. A consistent and well-structured energy policy framework is essential to unlock this potential."

Dr Abdul Hasib Chowdhury, Pro-VC of BUET, pointed out that "our energy policies are not inclusive. It is time to draw a comprehensive master plan for sustainable energy transformation, adopting a bottom-up approach that incorporates the needs of marginalised communities."

Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, stated, "We must consider renewable energy not as an alternative, but as an absolute necessity."

Ibrahim Khalil Al-Zayad, Chair of AAIBS, added, "We must focus on women-friendly and locally driven renewable energy solutions. The enthusiastic participation of youth in this festival signals a hopeful shift towards a sustainable energy future. However, unless renewable energy is effectively commercialised, it will remain at 3% of our energy ecosystem—we will not move forward."

A special segment titled "Power-Pitch" was also held to connect local innovators in renewable energy with potential investors, providing a platform for pitching their ideas.

Today, Thursday (24 April), 'Renewable Energy Fest 2025' concluded with a strong call to build a greener future through the exhibition of innovative technologies, policy discussions, and vibrant youth engagement. The two-day colourful event took place on BUET's Dhaka campus from 23–24 April, marking the country's first-ever national festival dedicated to renewable energy.

On the second and final day, the Innovation and Technology Fair featured cutting-edge renewable energy technologies and concepts presented by local innovators. Established renewable energy products and services from the corporate sector were also on display. One of the festival's highlights, the 'Youth Hub,' allowed young people to present their ideas through dialogues, workshops, and quizzes.

Additionally, three parallel policy dialogue sessions were held on renewable energy. In the session on "Infrastructure, Innovation, and Technology in Renewable Energy," Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury, Director of the Centre for Energy Research at UIU, presented the keynote paper, joined by experts including Tanuja Bhattacharjee from the World Bank. Another "Renewable Energy Financing and Investment" session featured Shafiqul Alam, Lead Analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), and representatives from City Bank PLC and IDCOL. The third session, titled "Youth for Energy and Climate Justice," brought together young climate activists, including Fariha Sultana Aumi, Chair of Brighters Society of Bangladesh, and Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet for Climate Justice, to share their perspectives. Each session explored the challenges and opportunities in expanding renewable energy in Bangladesh.

Finally, awards were presented to honour extraordinary contributions in the renewable energy sector. The 'Renewable Energy Winner Award' was given to the Centre for Natural Agriculture and Pran Boichitra Farm for their remarkable impact on sustainable energy. Ezygo Start-up secured first place in the 'Future Energy Technology Award' category, followed by IUB's Green Energy Research Centre in second place and Mati Agrovoltaic Programme in third.

Other notable attendees included Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury, Director of UIU's Centre for Energy Research; A S M Marjan Nur, Climate and Environment Adviser at the British High Commission in Dhaka; Professor Dr Ijaz Hossain, former Dean of BUET's Department of Chemical Engineering; Mohammad Jahangir Alam from City Bank PLC; and Mostafa Al Mahmud, President of BSREA. Over a hundred representatives from civil society organisations (CSOs), national and international development agencies, local energy and environment experts, and media members were also present.