To ensure the country’s electricity and energy security, there is a need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy as quickly as possible.
Otherwise, this electricity and energy crisis will continue to worsen day by day.
Experts made this comment at a discussion meeting on energy transition held at the Tafazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club on Thursday.
The discussion meeting titled ‘Bangladesh Energy Transition Policy 2024 (CAB Proposed) for Energy Justice’ was organised by the consumer rights organization Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB).
CAB’s Organising Secretary Professor Dr. Syed Mizanur Rahman Raju moderated the program, and CAB’s Coordinator Engineer Subha Kibriya delivered the welcome address.
He said that energy transition means moving from fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal) to renewable energy (solar, hydro, or wind power), not the other way around. We want to move from dirty energy to clean energy, for a beautiful habitat. However, the government is not showing effective steps towards this goodwill.
Professor Dr. Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan of the Department of International Relations, Dhaka University, said, “We know that even countries like Kenya are in a better position than Bangladesh in terms of energy transition. The reason is that they are leaning towards renewable energy instead of fossil fuels in their energy transition.”
… If it is compatible with the 4th Industrial Revolution, then the government, with the help of universities, will be able to more effectively carry out important tasks such as energy sector management, operation and development planning, control, and monitoring. This will ensure a just energy transition, protect the energy rights of the people, and they will receive energy justice.”
At this time, he said, “We are repeatedly saying, if you have any complaints regarding electricity and energy, inform us in writing. We will go through the legal process. But except for one person, no one else has done so. Just talking about it here is not enough; follow the legal process. We have gone to court with the complaint of that one person, and we will get the verdict soon. We hope to get it in our favor.”
He further said that it is not possible to solve all problems with just planning because, at present, every institution (government-private) has turned into an oligarchy. But I have not found a single NGO that can show where to intervene to solve this problem.
At this time, he said that due to the decrease in fuel oil prices in the international market, BPC (Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation) is making a profit of Tk 20 crore every day. But the price adjustment (fuel oil price adjustment) of that money is not being done in the country. CAB wants to assist the government in formulating a consumer-friendly energy policy. The government can spend the idle money in the (SREDA) fund on renewable energy production.
In his concluding remarks, the General Secretary of CAB’s central committee, Advocate Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan, sought the cooperation of all in creating a consumer-friendly state structure.