Energy experts urge govt to prioritise renewables in national budget

At a pre-budget press conference in Chattogram on Thursday (4 June 2026), speakers said renewable energy must be placed at the heart of the upcoming national budget to safeguard Bangladesh's energy security amid global market volatility and surging fossil fuel prices.

The event, titled "Global Energy Crisis and Renewable Energy: Pre-Budget 2026-27 Press Conference", underscored the urgent need to curb mounting electricity generation costs and address long-term energy concerns.

The press conference was organised by CLEAN, ISDE Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development (BWGED).

The event was chaired by Prof Dr Khaled Misbahuzzaman, President of the Environment and Environment Forum-Chittagong, and Professor at the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong.

It was moderated by Kazi Iqbal Bahar Chhaberi, Executive Director of CRCD.

SM Nazer Hossain, Vice President of the Central Committee of CAB and Executive Director of ISDE Bangladesh, presented the keynote paper.

In his presidential speech, Prof Dr Khaled Misbahuzzaman said there was no alternative to renewable energy for Bangladesh to combat the adverse effects of climate change and ensure long-term energy security.

"The fossil fuel-dependent development model is becoming increasingly risky for the environment, economy, and public health. Therefore, the renewable energy sector should receive special priority in the national budget, and investment in research, innovation, and technology development should be increased," he said.

He emphasised the need to foster indigenous technology and skilled human resources through universities and research institutions.

In his keynote address, SM Nazer Hossain said Bangladesh's economy continues to face repeated pressure due to volatility in international energy prices.

He alleged that consumers were being forced to bear the burden of high prices due to persistent planning weaknesses, unnecessary expenditure, and import-dependent policies in the power sector.

"To ensure energy security, investment in renewable energy must be increased and inequality in the power distribution system eliminated. Structural problems within the REB and PBS should be addressed to ensure an uninterrupted and high-quality power supply, particularly in rural areas," he said.

He further noted that a review of rural power supply during Eid-ul-Adha revealed persistent disparities in services between urban and rural areas.

Many areas connected to the national grid remain without electricity for extended periods, hindering development and affecting public life, he said.

Speakers at the press conference said import-dependent countries such as Bangladesh face escalating risks due to volatility in oil, LNG, and coal prices, as well as geopolitical crises.

As a result, power generation costs are rising, subsidy pressures are mounting, and the cost of living continues to increase.

The speakers noted that Bangladesh's power sector remains heavily dependent on gas, oil, and coal.

Due to over-reliance on fossil fuels, the country's economy has become highly vulnerable to fluctuations in international markets.

At the same time, capacity payments, energy import costs, and subsidies are creating a long-term burden on the national economy.

They stressed that expanding the use of domestic and renewable energy is essential to ensuring energy security.

The speakers also noted that rural communities were not receiving the expected benefits of full electrification due to infrastructural weaknesses, manpower shortages, and managerial limitations within the Rural Electrification Board (REB) and Palli Bidyut Samities (PBS).

Even minor storms or rainfall disrupt power supply, and in many cases, services take a significant amount of time to return to normal, they said.

They called for addressing inequality, dissatisfaction, and policy weaknesses between the REB and PBS, and for ensuring quality power services.

The speakers said that renewable energy still accounts for only a limited share of Bangladesh's total electricity generation, despite its significant potential.

The speakers said rooftop solar, solar irrigation, agrivoltaics, floatovoltaics, net metering, and community-owned energy systems could play a critical role in strengthening energy security, saving foreign exchange, creating employment, and protecting the environment.

The press conference put forward 11 recommendations for the national budget for fiscal year 2026-27.

The recommendations include increasing allocations to the renewable energy sector; reducing taxes and duties on solar panels and related equipment; providing green financing on favourable terms; expanding net metering; increasing the use of solar energy in agriculture; discouraging new fossil fuel-based projects; modernising the national grid; promoting community-based energy transition; reforming the REB-PBS system; establishing a renewable energy research fund; and ensuring planning and budget allocations to substantially increase the share of renewables by 2030.

Other speakers included environmentalist Prof Dr Idris Ali; Consumers Media Alliance President Alamgir Sabuj; Independent Television Bureau Chief Anupam Das; Daily Ameer Shomro Bureau Chief Hamidullah; Banglanews24.com's Al Rahman; Daily Sakaler Khabar Bureau Chief SM Pintu; Chattala Khabar's Maryam Jahan Munni; Times of Bangladesh's Mizanur Rahman; Daily Purbadesh's MA Hossain; The Business Standard Bureau Chief Mohammad Ilias; and Environment and Environment Forum-Chittagong members Jannatul Ferdous and Mohammad Jane Alam.

Environmental activists, energy experts, students, renewable energy entrepreneurs, civil society representatives, and journalists from various media outlets attended the event.

Speakers emphasised that renewable energy must be central to national development planning to ensure Bangladesh's economic stability, energy security, and a climate-resilient future.