Experts urge urgent overhaul of energy masterplan with stronger renewable focus

Highlights

• Govt rooftop solar rollout shows "encouraging progress"
• TIB cites governance failures in energy sector
• CPD urges less reliance on foreign consultants
• Rising LNG use and $4bn subsidies highlight need for sustainable transition

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 future energy mix.

The call came at the inauguration of the 3rd Bangladesh Energy Conference 2025, held at the Bangladesh Military Museum in Dhaka today (6 December). Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, inaugurated the event as the chief guest.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rizwana Hasan said the country's energy transition is a long-term, evolving journey, and while Bangladesh has launched several policies and programmes to expand renewable energy, real progress depends on implementation rather than ambition.

"We previously set high renewable targets, yet actual generation remained minimal. What we need now is a realistic, achievable roadmap," she said.

She also highlighted the ongoing government initiative to install solar panels on the rooftops of all government buildings, describing it as "rapid and encouraging progress."

The three-day conference, which began today and will run till tomorrow, brings together policymakers, researchers, civil society groups, and energy-sector professionals to reflect on Bangladesh's current challenges and explore pathways for a just and sustainable energy transition.

The inauguration was hosted by Monowar Mostafa, executive member of the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development (BWGED), and chaired by Professor Kazi Maruful Islam, coordinator of BWGED.

Maruful Islam said, "Energy transition must remain a priority in political commitments, especially ahead of upcoming national elections."

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman highlighted governance failures in the energy sector.

"Policy-level crimes and malpractice have historically plagued the sector. Masterplans prepared by foreign consultants, including JICA, have rarely aligned with the long-term interests of renewable energy or national needs," he said.

Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), emphasised the importance of strengthening domestic capacity.

"A meaningful transition requires technical knowledge, robust policies, and skilled human resources. Reducing dependence on foreign consultants and ensuring local ownership of policy implementation is now a national imperative," he said.

Highlighting Bangladesh's high electricity subsidies—about $4 billion annually—Prof Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury, chairman of the Centre for Renewable Energy Services Limited (CRESL), said, "Even half of that amount, if redirected toward renewable energy, could transform the sector."

"Many existing electricity policies remain 'unfriendly to renewables', slowing down progress and limiting the sector's potential," he added.

Advocate Shimonuzzaman, research director of LEAD Bangladesh, underscored the importance of transparency, accountability, and community rights in ensuring a just energy transition.

Banasree Mitra Neogi of Manusher Jonno Foundation echoed this sentiment, saying the voices of marginalised groups—especially women—must be central to future planning.

Speakers also said Bangladesh stands at a crucial turning point in its energy journey. Since the first Bangladesh Energy Conference in April 2023, the country has made progress in policy reform, investment, public participation, and climate risk management.

Key developments include a halt on new fossil-fuel power plant approvals, tax incentives for renewable energy, tenders for 5,238 MW of solar capacity, and the adoption of 3,000 MW of rooftop solar initiatives.

However, rising LNG imports continue to strain foreign exchange reserves, underscoring the urgency of a sustainable long-term plan.

Organised by BWGED in collaboration with 16 partner organisations, the 3rd Bangladesh Energy Conference aims to shape policies and public engagement that will define Bangladesh's energy future.