BRAC University hosted a seminar titled “Electricity,
Energy Situation and the Way Forward” on its Merul Badda campus on Tuesday,
organized by its newly launched Centre for Energy and Logistics (CEL), bringing
together policymakers, experts and academics to examine Bangladesh’s
electricity and energy challenges and explore paths forward.
Giving the welcome address at the university, Dr Sultan
Hafeez Rahman, chairman of the CEL’s Advisory Council and a member of BRAC
University’s Board of Trustees, reflected on Bangladesh’s changing energy
outlook since the global oil shock of the 1970s.
He noted that the country faces a serious energy problem
because it has not sufficiently applied its own strengths and has relied too
heavily on external support to address domestic challenges.
He also called on the CEL to bring stakeholders together,
undertake education and research and provide policy advice that moves beyond
diagnosing problems.
Keynote speaker Shafiqul Alam, lead energy analyst for
Bangladesh at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis,
outlined the country’s energy and electricity challenges, identifying imported,
dollar-denominated fossil fuels as a core issue.
He noted that peak electricity demand had reached 19,027
megawatts, and discussed risks associated with gas-supply disruptions, import
dependence and rising generation costs while highlighting opportunities in
renewable energy, rooftop solar and energy efficiency.
Ahamedul Karim Chowdhury, managing director of the
Container Company of Bangladesh Limited, delivered the second keynote, framing
energy security as a logistics challenge encompassing the systems required to
move energy from suppliers to consumers.
He examined the LNG and petroleum supply chains,
infrastructure readiness and proposed a set of resilience tests—covering
diversity, redundancy, buffer, connectivity, visibility and coordination—to
strengthen the sector.
A panel discussion followed, featuring six discussants.
Professor Dr. Abdul Hasib Chowdhury of electrical and
electronic engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
(BUET) and a CEL advisory council member, spoke on strategic energy planning
for Bangladesh.
Azam J Chowdhury, managing director of MJL Bangladesh
Limited, chairman of East Coast Group and a CEL advisory council member,
addressed immediate crisis-response measures and sector reform.
Siddique Zobair, senior energy advisor at Asian
Development Bank (ADB), discussed the development of Bangladesh’s energy
sector, gas exploration, and coal development.
Faiz Taiyeb, acting chief technology officer of Ophanix
Analytics and a CEL fellow, joined online to present on Bangladesh’s power
shortage and the absence of a fuel plan.
Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury, director of the Centre for
Energy Research at United International University (UIU), reviewed the prospects
and challenges of renewable energy.
Dr Sebastian Groh, a professor at BRAC Business School and
a CEL fellow, presented on Bangladesh’s six million electric three-wheelers as
an untapped power plant.
Addressing as chief guest, Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir,
adviser to the prime minister on the ministries of finance and planning,
informed of government efforts, such as for the creation of a land-based
regasification unit in Matarbari and for exploring offshore gas blocks.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Arshad Mahmud Chowdhury and
CEL Director Dr M Fouzul Kabir Khan also spoke at the event.
Former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Syeda
Rizwana Hasan, former interim government adviser for the environment, Treasurer
Ariful Islam and BRAC Business School Dean Dr M Mujibul Haque were also
present.
Through this event, BRAC University advanced the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
