BRAC University launches Centre for Energy and Logistics

BRAC University has established a new Centre for Energy and Logistics (CEL) to address emerging challenges and opportunities in Bangladesh's energy and logistics sectors through interdisciplinary research, education, policy engagement and capacity building.

The centre aims to advance knowledge and support evidence-based decision-making in energy and logistics systems while developing a centre of excellence for the Global South. 

It will focus on the growing demand for reliable energy, resilient supply chains, efficient logistics and stronger regional connectivity driven by Bangladesh's economic growth, industrialisation, urbanisation and global integration, according to CEL.

CEL's strategic focus areas include renewable energy, energy security, energy markets, energy finance, energy efficiency, climate and energy governance, freight transport, smart and green logistics, digital logistics, trade facilitation, infrastructure and regional connectivity. It will also work on areas at the intersection of energy and logistics, including decarbonisation, smart logistics hubs, alternative fuels, battery value chains, artificial intelligence and supply-chain resilience.

The centre will offer academic programmes, executive education and professional certification programmes, as well as organise conferences, workshops and seminars. Its research activities will cover basic, applied and policy research, market studies, economic analysis and technical assessments.

CEL, under the BRAC Business School, will also provide advisory services covering policy formulation, strategic planning, feasibility studies, regulatory analysis, investment advisory, project appraisal, and technical and legal due diligence.

The initiative brings together government ministries, development partners, international organisations, academic and research institutions, consulting firms, industry and civil society for joint research, policy dialogue, consultancy, capacity building and collaborative projects.

Professor M Fouzul Kabir Khan, former adviser to the interim government and founding CEO of Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), serves as the director of CEL.

Sultan Hafeez Rahman, former director general of the South Asia and Pacific departments at the Asian Development Bank, serves as chairman of its Advisory Council.

CEL has already organised seminars on Bangladesh's electricity access, power-system stability and strategic policy autonomy, as well as a public lecture on the country's power system. It is also scheduled to host a seminar on Bangladesh's national integrated multimodal transport sector master plan on September 3.

The centre plans to launch certificate courses on project finance, financial modelling, solar PV project design and implementation, and supply-chain and logistics operations with AI and green logistics.