Experts stress reformed energy policy to ensure clean air
Special Correspondent :
A high-level policy breakfast held on Thursday morning emphasized the urgent need to reevaluate and reform Bangladesh’s energy policies to address the worsening air pollution crisis and align national planning with clean energy goals.
The event, titled “Revisiting Energy Policies for Ensuring Clean Air”, was jointly organized by the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), and the Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD) at the BIP Conference Hall in Dhaka.
Chaired by Professor Dr. Md. Shahidul Islam, Chairman of the Department
of Geography and Environment at the University of Dhaka, the program featured a keynote presentation by Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, chairman of CAPS. He called for a pragmatic national energy plan, a Clean Air Act, and the integration of strict pollution standards in the 2022 Air Pollution Control Rules. “Clean air is not a luxury-it is our constitutional right,” he asserted.
Several speakers emphasized that while power generation capacity has increased, outdated transmission infrastructure is causing major inefficiencies. Abu Sayed Md. Kamruzzaman of the Dhaka North City Corporation highlighted the detrimental effects of coal-based power plants on agriculture and biodiversity, stressing the need for a balanced development across power production, demand, and transmission.
Nayoka Martinez Bäckström, First Secretary of the Swedish Embassy in Dhaka, reaffirmed European support for a just energy transition, while UNDP’s Jacob Ferdinand urged for strategic energy planning that prioritizes environmental impacts.
Professor Dr. Adil Muhammad Khan, president of BIP, advocated for expanding public transport and renewable energy to curb urban air pollution. Md. Shamsuddoha of CPRD criticized narrow nationalistic policy frameworks and called for alignment with global climate goals, including net-zero emissions by 2050.
Panelists also highlighted the lack of coordination among existing policies such as the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP), Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, and the upcoming Renewable Energy Policy 2025. Md. Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury from the Center for Energy Research stressed the urgency of placing renewable energy and clean air at the core of all development strategies.
Legal and policy experts, including Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Rasheduzzaman Majumder and CPD’s Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, criticized the shortcomings in past energy plans and called for a locally driven transparent policymaking.
Speakers further emphasized community participation, civil society engagement, rooftop solar energy, and political commitment as vital components in transitioning to clean energy. Dr. Md. Saifur Rahman from the Ministry of Environment noted that while numerous environmental laws exist, enforcement remains weak. He advocated for improved implementation tools, enhanced green financing, and evidence-based research.
The event concluded with a resounding call from Professor Dr. Md. Shahidul Islam to reduce energy consumption and intensify the shift toward renewables.
Among other notable participants were academics, planners, government officials, climate activists, journalists, and university students, representing a diverse coalition committed to promoting clean energy and environmental justice across Bangladesh.