Dhaka: Prime Minister’s Adviser on the Ministries of Finance and Planning Prof. Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir emphasized the urgent need for a nationwide social movement for renewable energy, the expansion of local manufacturing of solar technologies, and the pursuit of a balanced energy mix to expedite Bangladesh’s clean energy transition and enhance long-term energy security.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Titumir, addressing a seminar titled “Distributed Renewable Energy: The Future Solar Solution for Bangladesh” at the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) auditorium, urged Bangladesh to move beyond policy commitments and foster broad-based public participation to transform renewable energy into a people’s movement. He highlighted the importance of creating demand through collective action, stating that citizens’ demand would naturally lead to increased supply from the market.
Titumir pointed out Bangladesh’s historical success in public movements, such as the mass literacy campaign and canal excavation programs, which demonstrate the potential of citizen participation in driving national transformation. He called on civil society organizations, NGOs, and microfinance institutions to lead a nationwide campaign for renewable energy adoption, emphasizing that access to clean energy should be a universal right.
The adviser noted that renewable energy could reduce household expenses, boost savings, and create investment opportunities, thereby breaking the cycle of inherited poverty. He stressed the significance of promoting household-level renewable energy solutions, like solar-powered cooking systems, to lessen the country’s reliance on imported fuel and reduce imports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Titumir’s second priority was to develop a robust domestic manufacturing base for renewable energy technologies. He advocated for local production of photovoltaic (PV) panels, batteries, inverters, and other components necessary for solar power systems to reduce dependency on imports, strengthen supply chains, create jobs, and foster technological innovation.
He highlighted Bangladesh’s potential to support a competitive renewable energy manufacturing industry, given its status as South Asia’s second-largest economy and one of the world’s largest consumer markets by population. Drawing parallels with Pakistan’s rapid expansion of distributed solar systems, Titumir expressed confidence in Bangladesh’s ability to progress faster with strong public participation and private-sector investment.
Addressing his third priority, Titumir stressed the need for Bangladesh to adopt a balanced energy mix to ensure energy security while gradually increasing the share of renewable sources. He stated that a diversified energy mix would reduce import dependence, enhance energy security, and help the country navigate global uncertainties arising from geopolitical conflicts, supply chain disruptions, and climate-related challenges.
The adviser highlighted the government’s paradigm shift in renewable energy policy, which includes fiscal incentives to encourage solar energy investment. He urged microfinance institutions to integrate renewable energy financing into their lending programs to accelerate the adoption of distributed renewable energy technologies, particularly in rural areas.
Titumir called on NGOs to incorporate renewable energy coverage in their institutional targets, emphasizing that coordinated grassroots efforts could rapidly expand access to clean energy nationwide. The seminar, organized by ERF and the Distributed Renewable Energy Platform (DREP), featured speakers from various organizations discussing policy reforms, innovative financing, energy storage, public awareness, and technological advancement necessary for accelerating distributed renewable energy in Bangladesh. Additionally, CPD launched its “Renewables in Bangladesh” website as an information platform for the country’s renewable energy sector.