Dhaka: Bangladesh must diversify its energy mix, reduce fuel wastage, improve efficiency, and embrace modern technologies to ensure long-term energy security, experts said on Monday. They made the remarks at a seminar titled 'Energy Security in Bangladesh: Understanding the Challenges and Shaping the Way Forward', organised by the Young Engineers Chapter of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) at its headquarters.
According to United News of Bangladesh, presenting the keynote paper, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) member Prof Dr Engineer Syeda Sultana Razia emphasized that uninterrupted and affordable energy supply is essential for Bangladesh's economic development, industrialisation, and daily life. She identified declining domestic gas reserves, dependence on imported fuels, rising international energy prices, pressure on foreign exchange, and limitations in power generation and supply as major challenges to the country's energy security.
Speaking as a special guest, IEB Vice-President (Academic and International) Engineer Khan Manzur Morshed highlighted that the IEB headquarters has already organised four seminars on energy security. The recommendations from those discussions are being consolidated for publication, which will provide comprehensive direction on the problems, prospects, and way forward for the energy sector. Morshed also raised concerns about assigning important technical positions to non-technical personnel who lack adequate engineering and technological knowledge, advocating for qualified, experienced, and skilled engineers to be given appropriate responsibilities in technical institutions and important projects.
The IEB vice-president questioned the adequacy of feasibility studies conducted before several power plants were established in the past. He stressed the need for authorities to review whether fuel sources, supply arrangements, costs, and long-term fuel availability were properly assessed before approving such projects. Morshed called for transparent and independent investigations into projects implemented without adequate planning, technical assessment, or feasibility studies and are now creating financial and operational pressure on the state.
In his welcome speech, IEB Honorary General Secretary (Acting) Engineer Muhammad Ahsanul Russell stated that the recommendations emerging from the seminar will be carefully considered and sent to the relevant ministries and authorities. The seminar was chaired by Engineer Md Tofazzel Hossain, chairman of the IEB Young Engineers Chapter, and attended by IEB Honorary Assistant General Secretary (S and DW) Engineer Sabbir Ahmed Osmani, Honorary Assistant General Secretary (HRD) Engineer Md Nur Amin, leaders of various engineering divisions and chapters, members of the central council, and engineers from different engineering organisations.