Energy sector investment has to be controlled to prevent in future the rise of authoritative government like the one of Sheikh Hasina, said Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman.聽
Energy sector was among some of the crucial public agencies that suffered policy capture during the immediate past government for establishing its authoritative rule, he said.
鈥楢n energy sector investor must have certain limit to exercise control in the sector,鈥� said Iftekhar, speaking at the Bangladesh Energy Prosperity 2050 conference on Friday afternoon.
Over 300 participants joined the three-day conference held at BIAM foundation that concluded on Friday. The conference featured 46 keynote papers and 96 speakers, about a dozen from abroad.
The conference came up with a set of recommendations aimed at the expansion of renewable energy, replacing fossil fuels.
Environment, forest and climate change adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan once again reminded that cancelling fossil fuel power plants would not be so easy.
鈥楥oal-based and Rooppur nuclear power plants are not going to be cancelled,鈥� said Rizwana.
鈥楾hey will continue to be a thorn in our side,鈥� she said.
He, however, thought it would be wise for public agencies to develop their capacity to monitor the health and environmental impacts these power plants are going to have.
Experts working on the power and energy sector of the country demanded initiating a 鈥榥o electricity no pay鈥� policy for all power plants, which might be able to lessen the fiscal burden of the country.
They also demanded reducing all types of import duties for the renewable energy accessories necessary for both utility-scale and household solar power plants until the renewable energy industry operates at a full pace in the country.聽聽聽聽聽
BUET professor Ijaz Hossain questioned why there was no net-zero target for Bangladesh yet, under the current interim government.
鈥楾he environment ministry hasn鈥檛 declared a net-zero target for Bangladesh yet. This is the reason why renewable energy is not being promoted in the country,鈥� he said.
Hasan Mehedi, member secretary of Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development, the main organiser of the conference, read out the conference declaration. There were 23 co-organisers of the event.
