Staff Reporter :
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has voiced serious concern over the interim government’s decision to cancel 31 unsolicited renewable energy projects, totaling around $6 billion in investment, cautioning that the move may undermine investor confidence at a crucial stage of Bangladesh’s clean energy transition.
Speaking at a press briefing on “Power Generation from Renewable Energy: Challenges in Good Governance and the Way Forward” at TIB’s Dhaka office on 24 December, speakers described the cancellations as a “shocking and negative signal” to foreign investors, stressing the urgent need for stable and predictable investment in renewable power.
TIB Energy Governance Coordinator Md Newazul Moula and Assistant Coordinator Ashna Islam shared the organisation’s findings, while Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman also addressed the event.
The cancellations relate to projects approved under the now-defunct Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provisions) Act 2010
In November 2024, following the issuance of the Repeal Ordinance 2024, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) informed the companies that projects initiated under the repealed Act would not proceed.
TIB noted that Bangladesh’s renewable energy potential remains largely untapped, as policymakers have yet to make clean energy a central part of national planning.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman highlighted that without modern grid integration and adequate technical readiness, households find renewable energy neither convenient nor financially viable, emphasizing the importance of policy consistency to reassure investors.
The watchdog identified key obstacles, including land acquisition challenges for Independent Power Producers (IPPs), weak grid infrastructure, lack of smart grid systems, and insufficient substations, which delay project implementation and raise costs.
TIB also flagged bureaucratic inefficiencies, mismanagement in technical approvals, and alleged document forgery in environmental clearances, with little enforcement action taken.
TIB urged the government to strengthen oversight, improve transparency, modernize energy infrastructure, enforce fair regulatory practices, and ensure policy stability to restore investor confidence and accelerate Bangladesh’s renewable energy development.
