Speakers at a public discussion organized by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) on Wednesday warned that Bangladesh’s transition in the energy sector is being severely obstructed by unjust pricing policies and excessive profiteering.
This is not only hampering sectoral justice but also putting the country’s energy security, environment and the implementation of Paris Pact 2015 at risk, they also told event held at Social Science faculty of Dhaka University, they also said.
The event, held at Dhaka University, was orgainsed to create public awareness with regard to the CAB proposed Energy Transition Policy 2024 that focused on consumer-friendly, meaningful, affordable and environment-friendly policy to ensure energy security in Bangladesh.
Speakers emphasized that, like many parts of the world, Bangladesh is undergoing a shift in its energy landscape—from traditional fossil fuel dependency toward renewables and sustainability.
They criticized lack of transparency and accountability in the formulation of energy prices and subsidies, arguing that these practices disproportionately benefit a few corporations while placing a growing burden on ordinary consumers.
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) is tasked with energy pricing In Bangladesh, but people’s participation in its pricing process is very limited.
In view of this, the CAB has proposed structural reforms to the BERC’s structure in its proposed transition policy.
The consumer rights watchdog has also come up with a proposal to involve judiciary to make sure the energy transition is justified, participatory and address environmental concerns.
Addressing the event, Dr Shamsul Alam, CAB’s energy adviser, said, “So far, the CAB has lodged at least 15 lawsuits at to High Court to ensure justice in Bangladesh’s energy sector. But the players in the sector are very powerful. Despite that, the organization has kept up its campaign for energy justice.”
Prof Tanjimuddin Khan, who teaches international relations at DU, said: “Bangladesh’s energy mix is dominated by fossil fuel, which needs a quick shift. However, It is not possible as the country’s energy sector is controlled by foreign companies. As a result, energy security can’t be ensured here.”
He alleged that the foreign energy companies is collusion with the local player also responsible for this exploitive energy pricing mechanism prevailing in the country because such an important sector is dominated by overseas players.
“If the interim government fails to take any action against such looting-type pricing mechanism, the energy sector in Bangladesh can’t be make corruption-free,” he noted.
Speaking at the discussion as the chief guest, Mohammad Wahid Hossain, chairman of Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council, talked about the loopholes in energy subsidies as well.
He staed: “We provide subsidy of energy price to people’s energy rights, but in many cases it is evident that the benefit doesn’t reach the marginal people, while the privileged people benefit from it.”